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A philanthropic businessman who left his mark on the city of Dubbo and its people is being remembered for his drive and vision.
John Armati, who turned a small western NSW newspaper group, including the Daily Liberal, into a publishing empire of 64 mastheads, died on Sunday, aged 76.
Mr Armati was at the helm of Macquarie Publications for three decades from 1962 to 1995 and in that time also created a vast printing business.
He was also benefactor to the Western Plains Cultural Centre (WPCC), where his name will live on.
Long-time real estate agent Bob Berry paid tribute to the former newspaper publisher for his significant contribution to Dubbo.
Mr Armati “saw the digital age” before many in Australia and kept expanding Macquarie Publications, he recalled.
Mr Berry said the real estate institute had always acknowledged Mr Armati’s significant contribution to the business community, job creation and his vision for the future of newspaper publishing.
“As we look back now in 2017, he was probably ahead of his time,” Mr Berry said.
“Obviously what he built up here, from a single newspaper at Dubbo, he built up a publishing and printing empire and the citizens of Dubbo were beneficiaries of his business skills and vision.”
Mr Armati made donations to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, the Sydney Children’s Hospital and the Art Gallery of NSW Photography Collection.
His philanthropy was remembered as Dubbo Regional Council interim general manager Mark Riley offered condolences to the Armati family on behalf of the council on Monday.
Mr Riley said Mr Armati had been a generous benefactor to the WPCC, contributing almost $1 million in donations along with funding the purchase for the community of the Cloud series of photographs by internationally-renowned Australian Aboriginal artist Michael Riley.
“I recall negotiating the terms of the bequest with John and his wife Kate in 2007, in the company of former mayor Allan Smith, where John and Kate’s desire to leave a lasting legacy in Dubbo quickly became very evident,” Mark Riley said .
“John was an ex Dubbo High School student (where the current WPCC now stands) and he took a particular interest in the redevelopment of the site as a cultural centre, visiting the site during construction...
“The Armati name will live on forever at WPCC as the gallery is named ‘The Dubbo Regional Gallery - The Armati Bequest’ in perpetuity and whenever the Cloud series is exhibited, the generosity of John and his family is acknowledged in a caption that the works were purchased from funds donated by the Armati Family.”