Fastframe Cheltenham has a COVID safe plan & ready to Frame, call us on 9557 7576 !

Fastframe

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Photo Collages

In pre Covid days, customers would often bring in their holiday pictures for us to print and frame individually or arrange as a Collage. While many customers haven't been able to go on holiday this year due to Covid, that hasn't stopped their creative spirit and wish to record this most unusual year.

As a result, we are seeing more "Covid' collages, such as the following example.

If you would us to make a collage of your important 2020 events, then even though our Cheltenham shop is closed until the 12 January, we are still able to do image restoration work. Please use the form on our Contacts Us page to describe what you would like done. You can attach up to 5 image files ( jpg or png type) with a max size of 5MB each. We will put together some ideas and call or email you to discuss the options and provide you with a quote. If you have more than 5 images, contact us and we will send you a private upload link.

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Researching Service Records

Australian Service Records - 2020 update

Currently the best place to start researching Australian military service information for all Australian services and conflicts is the Australian War Memorial site where you can search by the service personnel's name, service number or unit.

The following websites may also contain useful information:

In addition, you can also search for the full Service Records of WW1 and WW2 service personnel at the Australian National Archives Australia site. The NAA site is in the process of digitising all service records, and many are available for download. If a record is not yet digitised, you can request it, however the NAA will charge a fee for this service.

Some information about the individuals service may also have been posted on the Ancestry genealogy site, however there may be a cost.

To research the histories of New Zealand WWI Service personnel, the NZ Archives is a good place to start.

Expert advice on medals and their mounting is available from our medalist, David Hirsh Medal Mounting.

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After 32 years in Bentleigh, Fastframe has moved to Cheltenham

The owners of Fastframe, are siblings, Sami and Odette. They both had successful corporate careers, however they had a love of art and wanted to follow their dreams. So they looked around for a business that would allow them work with art, use modern framing technology and also the business skills that they had learned in the corporate world.

Fastframe Bentleigh

Fastframe originally began as franchise business based in California USA in 1986. In 1988, Fastframe started in Australia and Sami and Odette bought a franchise and the "Fastframe Bentleigh" business moved into the newly built premises at 277 Centre Road Bentleigh. Back then there was a Shell service station next door and a BBC Hardware on the corner of Oak Street.

The business prospered and in order to meet customer needs, Fastframe soon expanded into computerised matt cutting, photo restoration and wide format printing.

The end of 277 Centre Road Bentleigh

Unfortunately, in July 2020 their building was going to be demolished (for more apartments) and they had to move. In addition, as Melbourne was about to enter its second Covid lockdown, a mad rush ensured to move all our equipment and stock!

9 Wanrua St Cheltenham

Fortunately, a new premises at 9 Wanrua Street Cheltenham was found. The new premises are larger and a good mix of factory space and large showroom, perfect for displaying examples of our work.

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A Tale of Two Brothers

In World War II, two brothers joined the AIF and were both sent to Papua New Guinea. One perished on a POW troop ship, the worst maritime disaster in Australian history, the other returned to Australia and spent his life working for the benefit of others, he received an OAM for his service.

The family wanted to remember the brothers and had collected memorabilia that needed to be preserved.

At Fastframe we worked with the customer to design a complementary frame for each brother. To do this we scanned and restored pictures and documents for each brother and their medals were court mounted by David Hirsh Medal Mounting.  

Unfortunately, one of the brothers colour patches were not available, so the customer ingeniously made a copy from felt. The customer also wrote the brothers biographies, which we were able to include in the frame so that future generations could read and appreciate their stories. As always, Southern Cross Trophies & Engraving in Collingwood supplied us with the brass plates.

The frame was finished off with UltraVue glass, which gives 70% UV protection and amazing clarity.

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