Ballarat businessman Henk Batstra dies, age 78

Mr Batstra died on Monday morning, two weeks short of his 79^th birthday, with a brain tumour.

It is the second huge loss for the city's business community within a fortnight, following the death of fellow colourful character and close mate David Haymes. The pair played an instrumental role in shaping Ballarat business, each with a strong focus on bettering the region, a passion for community and love for family.

Mr Batstra and Mr Haymes caught up about three weeks ago with all knowing it was likely the last time they would see each other.

From humble beginnings, Ms Batstra is best-known for founding graphic design and print company 61 Design, formerly known as Henksan Printers.

The Batstra family migrated from Holland in 1958, when Henk Batstra was 16 years old, and moved to a two-bedroom house in Clunes. The family learned to speak English from listening to a record player.

Mr Batstra did not fit in straight away, feeling he looked different and sounded different, to others in his new home. But he did carry the skills of hand composition. While his skills were not officially recognised in Australia, Mr Batstra started again to earn the appropriate qualification.

In the early 1960s Mr Batstra worked at The Courier before moving to Hedges and Bell in Maryborough. Mr Batstra started his own venture, Henksan, in 1974 with $800, no clients and working as a cleaner in banks at night in the Bridge Mall to help make ends meet.

His son Stefan, now a 61 Design director, said the first piece of business advice his dad had received was "just because you're in business and going to earn money, do not think all the money is for you".

Stefan said his dad did not overspend, always keeping the company stable, but he was generous when it came to offering advice and in supporting community organisations like Ballarat Hospice Care or sponsoring a child via The Smith Family.

"I always felt Dad was a generation behind where he should have been - he should have been born in my generation - in how he was so forward-thinking and wanting to innovate. He was always thinking outside the box," Stefan said. "Even with his illness, Dad would sill tell a story or make a suggestion in the office. It may not always have been warranted, but it was because he cared."

Stefan said his dad loved embracing new technology. All his early hand composition was done on a Thompson letterpress and an Original Perfecta cutting machine.This moved to off-set printing, negatives and computers.

The business has evolved into graphic design with bases from Toowoomba to the Gold Coast in Queensland, international partnerships in the United Kingdom and is starting up projects in the United States.

One of Henk Batstra's biggest loves was soccer and 61 Design, a major partner of A-League club Western United, has work prominently featuring in the club's Foxtel coverage.

"Dad was a Melbourne Victory supporter - one-eyed - but Western United wrapped their arms around him," Stefan said. "They presented him with the match ball before the last game in Ballarat and he didn't want to hand it back."

Family was important to Mr Bastra. Stefan grew up dye-cutting beer coasters and spacing in the family business. His dad instilled a strong work ethic in him, never allowing him to cut-corners.

When it came to Stefan wanting to join the company as an adult about 20 years ago, Mr Bastra was initially reluctant to hire him. They sat down and spoke about what Stefan could bring to the company.

"We would work 7am to 12 and 1pm to 4, Monday to Friday every week and every single day we would go to lunch together in the hour we had off," Mr Batstra said. "I'm incredibly proud of what he achieved...Dad always had a can-do approach. He didn't always get it right but you knew where you stood with him. He was a top bloke, fantastic dad, a friend and my best mate."

Mr Batstra will be farewelled at Regent Cinemas on Wednesday.

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