More than 800 printing industry professionals from across the country and overseas joined together on the final night of PacPrint 09 to recognise and celebrate the achievements of their peers at the 26th Australian National Print Awards. Wayne Robinson was there
Bambra Press was the night’s big winner, taking home three Gold Awards, with two Gold each awarded to Pettaras Press and Armstrong Miller & McLaren – one for The Digital Centre. Hannanprint also took out two gold, one for its Victorian operation and one for New South Wales.The Australian industry’s night of nights was held at the Palladium Ballroom at Crown Casino, just across the road from PacPrint, and provided a suitable celebration to mark the end of the final full day of the event.
A total of 82 awards – 28 Gold, 29 Silver and 25 Bronze – were made in this year’s Awards, the first in its new Best of the Best format where all entries in the National Competition are category award winners from their local State Awards.
Victoria had the most medals awarded, with 20 overall including 11 Gold, followed by South Australia with 18 including five Gold, NSW and Queensland, with a tally of 15 medals each (nine Gold and two Gold respectively) and Western Australia with one Gold out of ten medals. Tasmania took out two Silvers and a Bronze, and the ACT one Silver Award.
Surprisingly there was no Gold Award in the Innovation category.
A highlight of the evening, as always, was the Sponsor Awards. This year’s Heidelberg Award for Excellence in Craft was won by Printpoint Australia for the Palazzo Versace Cookbook, which also took out the Gold medal in the Book Printing category. Andy Vels Jensen, managing director of Heidelberg, which he described as a not-for-profit organisation, used his speech to take a a swipe at print brokers and those printers forcing down prices for print to unsustainable levels just for short term gain. The PaperlinX Award, for Outstanding Excellence as nominated by the National Print Awards judging panel, went to multiple award winner Manark Printing, for the Prime Minister’s Olympic Booklet. This entry won the ‘multi-piece productions and campaigns, including direct mail’ category.
Currie Group presented its first Award as a major sponsor of the event, stepping up to the role this year after many years as a Patron of the event. The company’s inaugural Award for The Most Innovative use of Imaging in Printing, was presented to Peachy Print for Double Love Knot, which won Gold in the Small printing business awards – less than 10 staff. Currie’s owner David Currie paid tribute to his father and the Currie staff for the company’s 60 continuous years of service to the print industry.
The Awards Dinner was hosted with aplomb by Melbourne TV identities Gorgi Quill and Larry Emdur, who provided style and energy to the event, while guests were also treated to the comedic talents of well known personality and seriously politically incorrect raconteur, Sam Kekovich.
One of the night’s major announcements was the retirement of current chairman Scott Telfer, and the appointment of his successor, John Wanless from Bambra Press, one of the night’s big Award winners.
Telfer says, “I have greatly enjoyed my time chairing the Awards and working with the fantastic group of people who make up the organising committee, and I thank all of those who have been involved for their outstanding contribution over the years.
“We have achieved a great deal over recent times, as we have brought the National Print Awards through an important transition from a stand-alone event to the ‘Best of the Best’ competition incorporating all State and Territory Awards, and I am proud to have been involved in those developments.
“Now, however, it is time for new blood to invigorate the Awards and take them to the next stage. John is an excellent choice, with his long association with the National Print Awards, both as a past committee member and as a winner of many Gold medals over the years, including three here tonight.
Telfer signed off saying, “I am confident that his initiative, enthusiasm and real appreciation for the achievement of quality in print will provide the energy and new direction required, and I wish both him, and his future committee, every success.”
Perhaps most importantly, the event once again provided a welcome opportunity to stop, celebrate the industry, and catch up with friends, colleagues and peers from around the country – an opportunity which was seized by all and enjoyed well into the night.
