Maryborough faces an uphill battle in its fight to save printing jobs, as a group of the nation’s biggest retailers garner support for the removal of Australia’s book importation restrictions.

The Coalition for Cheaper Books — a group consisting of retail giants Dymocks, Woolworths, K-Mart, Target and Big W and headed by Dymocks’ chief, Don Grover — was formed earlier this year and aims to support the removal of Australia’s current book importation laws.

Statistics released last week have shown that, on average, every adult in the Central Goldfields Shire spent almost $780 on poker machines last financial year.

The statistics, released by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, also show that between the shire’s 10,393 adults, $8,098,617.50 was put through the slots of the shire’s 114 poker machines, spread across two venues, last financial year.

Maryborough residents will now have a chance to voice their support for the town’s threatened printing jobs, with a petition opposing the proposed changes to Australia’s book importation laws launched on Wednesday.

Launched by Federal Member for Bendigo, Steve Gibbons, and Central Goldfields Shire Mayor, Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor, the petition will be presented to Federal Parliament “at the earliest opportunity”, following the winter recess.

Brumby throws support behind local book jobs

Victorian Premier John Brumby has thrown his support behind Maryborough’s embattled printing jobs, calling on the Federal Government to protect Victoria’s publishing industry jobs by retaining the current arrangements on parallel book importation.

Maryborough High School had its beginnings in 1912, in rooms at the School of Mines, later to become the Technical School, until a new building was constructed in 1915 in Market Square.

The first magazine published by Maryborough High School was in August, 1914 and it was called The Kookaburra.

Maryborough tackles the Bendigo Football League ladder leader, South Bendigo, tomorrow at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The Magpies will be on a high after trouncing Eaglehawk last weekend by 61 points but will be brought back to reality very early tomorrow.