The medal tally at Victoria’s PICA presentations tonight included the usual derby among heatset printers… but there was no denying the presence of digital in the room.

One company, Picpress took home a truckload of medals for a variety of digital work, while judges gave the Young Achievers Award to a digital printing employee.

After four years in the industry, Danielle Spicer has graduated to be a ‘premier operator’ who Blue Star Digital says rivals even its most qualified tradesmen. “In particular, she is someone we are confident will make an ongoing and valuable contribution to the industry for many years to come.”

The Media Super sponsored award recognises exceptional young employees who show exemplary promise as future industry leaders

In the heatset web printing category, Hannanprint collected gold (for Repco Real Deals) and bronze (ECO Outdoor Catalogue), while the silver went to AIW Printing for the R.B. Sellars Workwear catalogue.

The Victorian industry’s ‘night of nights’ in the Sofitel on Collins ballroom was hosted by radio talk show star Darren James, plus a host of others courtesy of impersonator Mark Andrew.

PICA Victoria Chairman Trevor Hone says he believes “challenges which have chilled us” in recent years are past and “some blue sky” was appearing. “Slowly, but surely, the mood of the industry seems to be lifting,” he says.

On our homepage: Danielle Spicer with MediaSuper's Scott LaFerlita

Right: Bill Healey of Printing Industries accepts Hannanprint's award from Mark George of sponsor Bottcher