Hot shot photo book snaps up six Galley Club awards

Australian printers shot down by Imago at this year's 32nd annual Kayell Galley Club Awards.

The European-based printer stole the night after scoring six awards, five of which were for the book, Shoot, a collection of 40 celebrity portraits by photographer Peter Brew-Bevan. (For the full list of winners, see the awards).

BPA Print Group took the honour of Australian Printed Book of the Year 2007 for Icons of Australian Sport: Peter Brock – just. As the last award to be presented, it was almost forgotten in a rush to get the fun and games started with an interactive round of trivia.

John Stroud, sales manager of BPA Print Group relished the victory. "It's fantastic to have been involved in the production of what is a great book, printed and finished in Australia on Australian paper," he said.

Good sports: Tom Markovski, sales executive at BPA Print Group (left) with Michael Schulz (right) after receiving Australian Printed Book of the Year.

Galley Club president, Michael Schulz, declared the event another triumph for the group which is growing in size and scope.

"The Galley Club has been through some interesting time recently," he said. "We're trying to provide a forum for people in publishing, print, marketing and production. We've got a diverse crowd."

With a 200-odd strong crowd, Schulz believes the group's growth is inevitable. "The awards were a great success, celebrating excellence in production as well as providing opportunity to network and meet people in the industry."

While it doesn't yet have a Facebook, Schulz said that the Galley Club is looking to expand its online presence. "We want to work in this to get as many people involved as possible," he said.

Excellent printing and production skills might have been the key to scoring an award, but a sound knowledge of Kevin Rudd's personal life was the trick to winning one of the five lucky door prizes.

Hands on heads ... no it's not a high school detention but a rigorous quizzing regime to see who knows Kevin Rudd the best.

Under the leadership of MC, Peter Berner, of ABC TV's The Einstein Factor, the crowd were brought to their feet before eventually being seated as five savvy quiz contestants battled it out for prizes such as an iPod and a night out at the Amora Jamison Hotel, venue for the evening.

This year's awards were sponsored by Kayell as a way of raising awareness that a number of its products are important and relevant to the publishing industry.

Pictured: Robert Gatto (left) with Michael Schulz (right).

"It was a great success and good to see so many people there," said Robert Gatto, sales and marketing manager.

"It was great for us to be able to show so many people a bit more about what we do and have the opportunity to talk to new people we might not see on a day-to-day basis."

Gatto said that Kayell not ruled out the opportunity to sponsor the awards next year. "If given the opportunity we will be there again," he said.