The regional print and graphic communications industry will be flocking to Melbourne in May for PacPrint13 – but for those who enjoy pomp, ceremony and glittering celebrations, it’s the National Print Awards’ 30th Anniversary Dinner, to be held on the final day of the exhibition, which will be the week’s absolute winner.
With the regal theme, ‘The Midas Touch’, the night is sure to bring a touch of glamour to the city as the Awards turn everything to Gold at the Palladium Ballroom at Melbourne’s Crown Casino – just opposite the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre which will be home to PacPrint13.
Awards organisers are busy with arrangements but are still under a decree of silence as to specifics of the night’s entertainment. Will it involve royalty? Celebrities? No one is saying – but National Print Awards Chairman, ‘King’ John Wanless, let slip that one of the night’s special guests is, in fact, one of the titled gentry – albeit thanks to a dubious online transaction – who is sure to deliver a night of ‘right royal fun’.
“The 30th National Print Awards is obviously a significant milestone, so we are sparing no efforts in our attempt to create a celebration worthy of the occasion,” Wanless said.
“Three decades ago, when the Australian print industry was under extraordinary pressure from offshore suppliers, a group of industry professionals from the print, paper and advertising industry came together to create a forum which would ‘recognise and encourage the achievement of excellence in print in Australia’. Their vision was to convince print buyers – and, indeed, Australian print service providers themselves – that print produced in Australia was equal to, or better than, that produced anywhere else in the world.
“Today, there is no question that their vision has been realised. Every year, the standard of entries exceeds expectations and, over the years, many NPA Gold Medal winning entries have received the most prestigious international Awards. Simply by reaching the national stage of our competition, this proud heritage marks this year’s finalists as among the best in the world, and truly the ‘royalty’ of our industry,” he said.
The Dinner itself will be a chance to see these kings and queens of industry crowned for their outstanding achievements – and an opportunity for loyal industry subjects to gather and pay homage to their majestic achievements while enjoying a night of entertainment and sumptuous dining.
With so much going on in Melbourne during the week of the Awards, those intending to be there are advised to mark the date in their diaries now, and keep their eyes on the recently launched National Print Awards website, www.nationalprintawards.com.au and the trade media so that they can move quickly when registrations open.