Head judge Greg Grace said the standard of entries was getting higher by the year, with only 5 marks out of 400 separating the seven contestants for the top spot. Timson said the strength of the entries indicated the future of the industry would be in safe hands.

Along with Hickey the other high achievers were Cohan Banfield, from Bulli Printing, Steven Knight from Graphic World, Todd Naylor from the University of New England, Jarrad Orr from Lilyfield Printing, Lisa Wolfenden from Penfold Buscombe, and Arnold Remiendo, also from Sony Music Printing.

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