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Annual Report to
Shareholders 1996
Review of
Operations
Regional Acquisitions
Ian Law., General Manager Special
Projects
 In
December 1995 the Company acquired the 56 newspapers and
magazines in the Macquarie Publications group, a diverse
group of daily, tri-weekly, bi-weekly, weekly and monthly
publications, and the web printing sites at Dubbo, Orange,
Bega and Nowra. Its titles, all in New South Wales, were
scattered from the far west (Cobar) to the far south coast
(Eden) and fitted well geographically and operationally with
existing publications.
The Macquarie Publications group at the time of
acquisition was the largest independently owned regional
publishing group in Australia. The organisation grew from a
single publication, The Dubbo Liberal, purchased by the late
Leo Armati and his wife Pat in 1949. Their son, John Armati,
was at the helm for a major part of the group's expansion
until its sale to Rural Press. The purchase meant the
"adoption" of an additional 465 staff into the Rural Press
fold. They are to be commended for their enthusiasm in
adapting to the new procedures and displaying the same
hallmarks of dedication as the existing Rural Press team.
The Macquarie group includes an experienced and competent
senior management group, several of whom have prior service
with Rural Press publications.
The acquisition included majority shareholdings in three
high circulation magazines, the Western Magazine, the Town
& Country Magazine and the Southern Weekly Magazine plus
a 50% interest in the Gilgandra weekly.
The thrust since acquisition has been to improve the
performance, while at the same time ensure a smooth
transition into Rural Press. National sales opportunities
have been enhanced and the Macquarie titles are now being
marketed as part of a larger package.
Performance improvement initiatives in the Macquarie
publications group have been hampered by the quiet retail
environment in many centres across regional New South Wales.
Other factors affecting early performances have been
cutbacks to the Federal Public Service, the downturn in
building, timber and tourism industries, and the level of
competition in some markets.
Regional Acquisitions
- Daily Liberal
- Weekend Liberal
- Mailbox Shopper
- Narromine News & Trangie Advocate
- Cobar Age
- Warren Advocate
- Nyngan Observer
- Western Sunday
- Mudgee Guardian
- Western Magazine
- Cowra Guardian
- Young Witness
- Grenfell Record
- Canowindra News
- Forbes Advocate
- Lithgow Mercury
- Parkes Champion Post
- Wellington Times
- Western Advocate
- Central West Sunday Bathurst
- Western Times
- Lyndhurst Shire Chronicle
- Weekend Advocate
- Central Western Daily
- Central West Sunday Orange
- Midstate Observer
- Cooma Monaro Express
- Snowy Times
- Jindabyne Summit Sun
- Bombala Times
- Imlay Magnet
- News Weekly
- Bega District News
- Narooma News
- Sapphire Sun
- Gilgandra Weekly
- Goulburn Post
- Post Weekly
- The Magazine
- Tallaganda Times
- South Coast Register
- Southern Highland News
- Camden Crier
- Picton News
- Southern Star
- Bega Times
- Milton Ulladulla Express
- South Coast & Southern Tablelands Magazine
- Yass Post
- Yass Tribune
- Shoalhaven Nowra News
- Bay Post
- Moruya Examiner
- Highlands Post
- Property Press
- Town & Country Magazine
- Southern Highlands Visitors Guide
- Crookwell Gazette
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