Western Australia’s PICA was an energy charged event from motorbikes and beams of energy reverberating around Perth’s Hyatt Hotel to the rivalries between major medal contenders.
The teams at Scott Print and Advance Press set the scene as traditional PICA rivals. Scott Print had a greater variety of gold winning entries but Advance had the opportunity to go all out and harness perfection in winning the Best of Category.
Both companies won nine print category Gold medals. Additionally Scott Print took out the FutureNow Commitment to Workforce Development Gold award and the Environment Gold Award. Advance Press with its Argyle Pink Diamonds – Diamond Jubilee Book won the Stockman Paper Best of Category award for 2014.
Community Newspapers apprentice Bronte Vincent was named LIA Heidelberg graduate of the year, while Scott Print’s Rio Chard was the 2014 recipient of the Media Super Future Leaders award. In the special areas of recognition the inaugural Design in Print award went to FORM for the Ngarluma Ngurra booklet printed by Scott Print.
PICA chairman Theo Pabst was recognised for his industry work, receiving the WA printing industry Recognition Award. Although retiring, he will continue to work for the betterment of the industry.
In his address he acknowledged the role of PICA showcasing the achievements of companies of all sizes. “This is a night where we give recognition to those small and large who excel in what they do,” he said.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening, DIC’s man in WA Carl Pagano moved through the crowd getting straight answers to his questions. Stockman Paper’s managing director Doug Rose knew the statistics for paper and was absolutely certain that paper and print have a long future. Paul Acton from Fujifilm reinforced his company’s commitment to serve the WA industry and Media Super’s Erick Cordero reminded all present that something everyone has, superannuation, should be reviewed – particularly default super – because of recent changes governing superannuation.
Printing Industries state manager, Western Australia, Paul Nieuwhof, said that although the number of attendees was slightly down on 2013, some tweaking of the format and a schedule allowing for catching up and networking proved to be a good decision by the committee organisers.
“They should feel rightly proud of all their hard work and contributions which made the event such a success,” he said. “Although the booklet and book categories and digital printing were highly contested, it was a little disappointing that wide format, despite its popularity, failed to attract sizeable entry numbers.”
Nieuwhof said that that since direct entry into the National Print Awards was now possible, WA would be reviewing its own categories for a revamped PICA event in 2015.
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