Fairfax sites won half the available awards, with the company’s Ballarat site – soon to be upgraded to handle production of flagship Melbourne daily The Age following the closure of the Tullamarine plant – taking two top prizes.

APN’s Yandina, Queensland, site won first and second places in the relatively new double-width category, while APN colleagues from Toowoomba and Hastings (NZ) were also placed (pictured).

The 58 entries came from only 17 member sites, with SWUG president Bob Lockley urging more to enter next year.

Standards were generally not as high as in 2012, judges’ chairman Gordon Cole reported. While some familiar problems – such as tinting, scumming and catch-up – were “virtually nonexistent”, Cole said entries included some muddy photographs, “especially in stochastic production, where you would expect better” and typically caused by over-inking.

Nicole Clarke, a fourth-year apprentice at News Limited's Chullora, NSW, print site currently learning operations in the Ferag mailroom – was named SWUG's apprentice fo the year. Her prize include a tour of Australian newspaper print sites.

Best overall print quality (single width), Brissett Shield – Fairfax Media Ballarat (Uniset 75) for Bendigo Advertiser;

Runner-up– APN Print Hawkes bay (Goss Community) for Hawkes Bay Today;

Highly commended– Fairfax Regional Printers (Uniset 70) for Port Macquarie News.

Best coldset commercial publication, Flint Group shield– Fairfax Media Ballarat (Uniset 75) for Rural Events Guide;

Runner-up– Horton Media Australia (Goss Community) for Journey;

Highly commended– Print Leader Tamworth (Goss Community) for Tamworth Building Supplies.

Best overall print quality, double width, Norske Shield– APN Print Yandina (manroland Regioman) for Sunshine Coast Daily;

Runner-up– APN Print Yandina (manroland Regioman) for Bundaberg News Mail;

Highly commended– WA Newspapers (KBA Commander) for the West Australian.

Best newspaper on enhanced stock (over 50gsm) DIC Shield– Fairfax Media Mandurah (Uniset 75) for Denmark Bulletin;

Runner-up– Fairfax Media North Richmond (Uniset 70) for the Australian Financial Review;

Highly commended– APN Print Toowoomba (Manugraph Cityline) for Queensland Chinese Times.