McGrath took the honours at a well-attended celebration held at Fujifilm Business Innovation in Melbourne last night, from a strong field of contenders who judges said were difficult to separate.
These included McGrath’s colleague and fellow printer at Note Printing Australia, Jack McAullay, pre-press operator Bailey Kennedy-Wall from Multi Colour Corporation, and printers Mark Pedroni from Fildes Group and Daniel Colbert from Camprint. McAullay and Kennedy-Wall were also awarded Special Merit Awards on the night.
LIA Victoria President Robert Black says the Awards continue to be a fundamental feature of the LIA charter, which is focused on education, connection and recognition for ‘all people in print’.
“The LIA has a long and proud history of recognising and encouraging graduates, as part of our commitment to the future of print and the wider graphic communications sector in Australia,” he said.
“With the generous support of our sponsors, Heidelberg Australia and the Collie Print Trust, we are able to provide a $3000 grant to the Graduate of the Year, as well as two $1000 grants for special merit, with the prize money to be used towards furthering the graduates’ education and career development.”
, Graduates Mark Pedroni, Angus McGrath, Daniel Colbert, Bailey Kennedy-Wall and Jack McAullay, with Robert Chesney & Robert Black, LIA..JPG)
That sponsorship will also enable State winners to travel to Sydney for the 2023 national judging, which will be held during Visual Impact at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park. The formal Award Presentations will take place during a drinks function in the Seminar Theatre at Visual Impact at 6pm on Thursday 4 May, 2023.
The 2023 and 2024 National Graduates of the Year will be sponsored by Heidelberg to attend the 2024 national presentations, where they will vie for the biennial Visual Connections LIA National Graduate Scholarship Prize of $10,000, and the $5,000 Ball & Doggett Future Leader Award, recently renamed to recognise that company’s sponsorship. Both awards are provided for graduates to use towards learning experiences which will further their career aspirations.
Black says all five finalists this year are ‘unquestionably future leaders’ for the industry, saying Judges had a tough time to decide on the eventual winners. “It is enormously pleasing to have such a high-quality group of entrants, and very encouraging for the future of our sector to see their passion, initiative and commitment,” Black says. “Each of the finalists this year should be congratulated on their preparation for the Awards, and on their career achievements so far. I have no doubt we will be hearing a lot from them in future years.”
To find out more about the LIA Graduate Awards, go to www.lia.com.au/lia-awards. Membership of the LIA is open to individuals involved in any aspect of print, from creative and design, through prepress and all forms of print production, to finishing and distribution. To find out more about LIA Victoria go to https://lia.com.au/states/victoria/ or to enquire about membership, contact vic@lia.com.au
