After much anticipation, WriteMark officially launched on 1 March 2005. 

Guests and Write Group staff celebrated the occasion in festive style, cutting a WriteMark cake and toasting the future success of the national campaign.

The WriteMark Business Development Manager, Christopher Travers, welcomed everybody, and in particular thanked people and staff who had directly assisted with the launch. These included:

• Joanne Ruscoe and Vanessa Rawson from Ruscoe PR Ltd, who secured national media attention for the launch of WriteMark
• Stefan Wahrlich, who did the photographic design work for the impressive WriteMark brochure
• Craig Christensen from Graphic Solutions, who worked on all the brand, brochure format, logos and PR support material.

Guests who had already achieved the WriteMark were commended for their pioneering spirit in embracing the campaign and leading the way for others with the document assessment process. Christopher said, ‘I want to congratulate you and tell you we consider you our champions … you will forever be a part of the history and foundation of the WriteMark’.

In introducing the WriteMark Director, Lynda Harris, Christopher recognised Lynda’s visionary leadership with the WriteMark campaign: ‘Lynda has a compelling mission and empowers others to participate. She encourages others to embrace the challenge of plain English and supports and recognises their effort’.

In responding, Lynda then acknowledged everyone’s support, in particular, Richard Francis from Francis Consulting: ‘Richard Francis’s support, advice, and encouragement were invaluable and I am personally very thankful for his help in making a good idea become a business reality’.

Lynda then acknowledged all the organisations and individuals who have achieved the WriteMark, and set out some of the objectives and goals of the national campaign, including the launch of Plain English Day on 1 March 2006.