PrintNet | Photo finish at Victorian PICA presentation

In the end, four companies took home three Gold Awards apiece – Eastern Press, GEON Group, Adams Print and Picpress – with Avon Graphics running just a nose behind with two Golds. According to PICA Victoria Chairman Trevor Hone, however, all those who entered this year’s awards have earned a place in the Winner’s Circle.

“It is always a fantastic achievement for a company to take home Gold in these Awards,” he said. “It is not only worthy recognition of these printers from their peers here in Victoria, but provides only platform for entry into the National Print Awards, where they will have the opportunity to compete with the ‘best of the best’ from around Australia.

“This year, our Judges reported that the quality of the field was as high as it has ever been – a great tribute to all those who achieved an Award. We warmly congratulate the 17 companies who took out this year’s 26 Gold medals and wish them well at the National Print Awards in March next year.”

Other Gold medal winners on the night, which was hosted by media, sport and racing personality Emma Freedman, included Eastern Press, Courtney Colour Graphics, Blue Star Print, Bambra Press, Redwood Ltd Prints, Labelhouse, RA Printing, Detmold Consumer Goods Packaging, Hannanprint, PMP Print, Print Impressions and Willprint Shepparton.

The Currie Group Award for the most innovative use of imaging in print was presented to Michael Warshall from Picpress for their entry, ‘Cuba 2 Volumes Greg Hotson’, by Currie Group’s Philip Rennell.

Next to the stage was Bill Wall from Heidelberg, who handed the prestigious Heidelberg Award for Excellence in Craft to Gavin Byrne from Bambra Press for ‘Prime Minister’s Olympic Dinner Invite’.

The Media Super Victorian PICA Judges’ Award was presented by Andrew Whiley to two companies, with judges being unable to separate the entries to determine the most outstanding Gold Medal winner. The winners were Adams Print for the ‘Richard Green 2011 Calendar, accepted by Shane Soutar, and Print Impressions for ‘HIA Professional Award Submission 2011’, accepted by Trevor O’Connell.

Some 300 guests, resplendent in smart race track fashions and fascinators, enjoyed a night of fine dining, dancing and fun at the Awards – in particular, a special race call of ‘The PICA Cup’ by industry legend Jack Styring.

Excitement reached fever pitch as tables of guests competed under the names of famous Melbourne Cup winning horses for first place – a prize only slightly more hotly contested than the night’s ‘Fashions on the Field’.

"As horse racing is, in the end, about who makes it first past the post, so the PICA Awards presentation was primarily about achievement – yet it is not only the night’s medal winners who should be congratulated," Mr Hone said.

“In a horse race, a number of variables play their part in the final result: The breeding and bloodlines of the horse; the skill of the trainer; the form and fitness of the horse; the conditions of the track.

“Yet when the horses are released from the gates, there is always that element of chance – luck, if you like – which comes into play.

“In the PICA competition, however, achieving the ultimate accolade has nothing at all to do with luck. Rather, it is solely due to skill, commitment and close attention to detail – the attributes which have produced quality print for centuries and which are still paramount to delivering real value in today’s competitive market.

“All those who take home medals from tonight’s presentation should be congratulated as, indeed, should all those who have entered. It is people like these whose creativity, commitment, innovation and passion will not only ensure the survival of our industry but give it the bright future it deserves," he said.


PRINT AWARDS CATEGORY WINNERS
Category	Entry Title	Entered By	Medal

(1) One, two and three colour printing	Journeys of Melbourne's Coffee Pioneers	Courtney	Gold
	Friday at Santos - Jessie Di Blasi	Picpress	Silver
	Richard White 2012 Calendar	Adams Print	Bronze

(2) Commercial posters, showcards, card constructions and mobiles	Gustave Moreau & the Eternal Feminine Poster	Adams Print	Silver
	Dan Murphy Langton's Poster	Geon Group	Bronze

(3) Leaflets	HSV	Eastern Press	Gold
	Burbank	Eastern Press	Silver
	Jorge Schmeisser Catalogue	Adams Print	Bronze

(4) Presentation Folders	The Ultimate Cinema Experience	Geon Group	Gold
	Impulse Range	Geon Group	Silver
	Burswood Sales Brochure Vietnamese	Geon Group	Silver
	Prius	Eastern Press	Bronze

(5) Booklets, catalogues and magazines saddle-stitched	Aerial Sales & Marketing Suite	Geon Group	Gold
	My80	Bambra Press	Silver
	Rhodes & Beckett AWII	Bambra Press	Bronze
	Roger David	Eastern Press	Bronze

(6) Booklets, catalogues and magazines bound by any method but saddle-stiching	Eugene Von Guerard, Nature Revealed Catalogues	Adams Print	Gold
	Rhodes & Beckett SSIO	Bambra Press	Silver
	Albert Towers Sales Brochure	Adams Print	Bronze
	Knight	Bambra Press	Bronze

(7) Annual reports	Fight Cancer	Eastern Press	Silver

(8) Calendars	Richard Green 2011 Calendar	Adams Print	Gold
	Australian Weather Calendar	Blue Star Print - Victoria	Silver
	PPG Calendar	Eastern Press	Silver
	Seasons Greetings from Crown	Geon Group	Bronze

(9) Stationery	Melbourne Football Club	Eastern Press	Gold
	Fraser Stationery	Taylor'd Press	Silver
	Tasmania	Eastern Press	Bronze

(10) Postcards and greeting cards	Vienna Art & Design Greeting Card Pack	Adams Print	Bronze

(11) Limited editions or art reproductions	Ames	Eastern Press	Gold
	The Pauline Gandel Collection of Japanese Lacquer	Kosdown Printing Co Pty Ltd	Silver
	The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, History of the Courses	BPA Print Group	Bronze

(12) Book printing, case bound	Look - Contemporary Photography Since 1960	Blue Star Print - Victoria	Gold
	Vienna Art & Design Catalogues	Adams Print	Silver
	Special P & G Book	Geon Group	Silver
	Bruno Leti - The Matrix	Blue Star Print - Victoria	Bronze

(13) Book printing, limp bound	Gustave Moreau & the Eternal Feminine	Adams Print	Gold
	Collection Magazine	Eastern Press	Silver
	Anton Broehl - In The Spotlight	Blue Star Print - Victoria	Bronze

(14) Book printing, digitally printed	Cuba - 2 volumes - Greg Hotson	Picpress	Gold
	Picture Maker - the Future of Professional Photography	Picpress	Silver
	Scratching the Surface of Kenya - Adrian Duncan	Picpress	Silver
	Lisa & Martin	Picpress	Bronze

(15) Multi piece productions and campaigns	Prime Minister's Olympic Dinner Invite	Bambra Press	Gold
	SXY2 Marketing Brochure	Adams Print	Silver
	Sustainable Homes Program	Courtney	Bronze
	Neenah Classic	R A Printing	Bronze

(16) Impact, sensory or Direct Mail	Winter Designer Brochure	Geon Group	Gold
	Host 5549 Pop Up Self Mailer	Geon Group	Silver
	RACV August '11	PMP Print	Bronze
	RACV June '11	PMP Print	Bronze

(17) Packaging - cardboard substrate	Loreal Sales Kit	Redwood Prints (entered by Pandoras Boxes)	Gold
	Calloway Gift Box	Madman Printing (entered by Pandoras Boxes)	Silver
	Baxter Healthcare Sales Kit	Redwood Ltd (entered by Pandoras Boxes)	Bronze

(18) Packaging - any substrate other than cardboard	-	No award made	-

(19) Labels, roll fed	KO1 11 Shiraz	Labelhouse Pty Ltd	Gold
	Matilda's Ghost	Labelhouse Pty Ltd	Silver
	Tuerong Creek Wine Label	Rapid Labels	Bronze
	Aloe Vera Inner Leaf Juice	Fantastick Label Company	Bronze

(20) Labels, sheet fed	-	No award made	-

(21) Security or specialty printing	Military Aviation - Mini Sheet	R A Printing	Gold
	Farming (Aust Native Plants) Stamps & Stamp Pack	Ego	Silver
	Durex 3d Lenticular	Immij	Bronze

(22) Flexographic printing - any substance	Skinny Cow Cookie Vanilla	Detmold Consumer Goods Packaging	Gold
	Wizz Fizz Fruity Pops 10 Pk	Detmold Consumer Goods Packaging	Silver
	Mission White Corn Tortillas	Detmold Consumer Goods Packaging	Bronze

(23) Screen Printing	Spinach Roll & Coffee Combo	STS Creative Printing	Silver
	"Win a Trip to Paris"	STS Creative Printing	Bronze

(24) Web offset printing, heat set	Racing Mode August 2011	Hannanprint	Gold
	Habitat Magazine Vol 39 Number 4	Hannanprint	Silver
	Good Weekend	Hannanprint	Bronze
	Melbourne Recital Centre Autumn 2011	Hannanprint	Bronze

(25) Web offset printing, cold set	-	No award made	-

(26) Web offset publications with a cover price	Belle Dec/Jan	PMP Print	Gold
	Marie Claire June '11	PMP Print	Silver
	Shop Till You Drop September '11	PMP Print	Silver
	Shop Till You Drop August '11	PMP Print	Bronze
	Good Food - May '11	PMP Print	Bronze

(27) Digital Printing, non inkjet	Collection Magazine	Eastern Press	Gold
	Hold Fast The Heritage	Manark Printing	Silver
	St Vincents Annual Report 2010	Bambra Press	Bronze

(28) Digital printing inkjet	Bird Art - Darren Leal	Picpress	Gold
	Micheal Warshall Picture Maker - Banner	Picpress	Silver
	Dancers - Darran Leal	Picpress	Bronze

(29) Digital printing wide format	-	No award made	-

(30) Embellishment	National Rural Independents Ltd Invitation Set	Avon Graphics	Gold
	Chinese New Year Invite - Black and Silks	Avon Graphics (entered by Bambra Press)	Silver
	The Lion King	Superior Foil Print	Bronze

(31) Self promotion	Promotional Poster Set	Avon Graphics	Gold
	Magnifying Glass Business Card	Superior Foil Print	Silver
	The City of Melbourne calendar	Blue Star Print - Victoria	Bronze

(32) Innovation	Paul & Rebecca Wine Front & Back	Fantastick Label Company	Silver

(33) Small printing business awards, less than 15 staff	HIA Professional Award Submission 2011	Print Impressions	Gold
	"108 Flinders" brochure	Moule Print	Silver
	Yvonne & Jim's Wedding - Yervant	Picpress	Bronze

(34) Sustainable Green Print	How Green Are we?	Willprint Shepparton	Gold

(35) Design	2012 Australian Landscapes - Photography by Peter Walton	Anita Milas (entered by Picpress)	Gold
	150th Celebration	Tree House Graphics (entered by Adams Print)	Silver
	Veri.live	Damage Design	Silver

When Australia came to a halt to watch a thrilling photo finish in the Melbourne Cup – it was closely followed by the race of Victorian print industry professionals competing for Gold at the Victorian PICA presentation night at Sofitel Melbourne.