Of the many applicants, the list was whittled down to seven very deserving finalists, including Mathew Rogers of Penfold Buscombe, Neville Williams of Rural Press, Shannon Hurry of Sony Music Entertainment, David Purdon of Rotary Colorprint, Royce Joseph of PMP, Simon Studdert of Sydney Allen Printing, and the winner Jennifer Batt-Rawden.

Nyryn Norris, JS McMillian production manager, was on hand to congratulate all the finalists, and was full of praise for the young achievers.

“This year’s apprentices were of a very high standard, coming from a variety of printing processes. The scoring in the end was very close and all apprentices should be commended on their efforts,” says Norris.

David Evans, Heidelberg Australia customer support manager, made the final presentation, and described Batt-Rawden as “the apprentice that aspired to the challenge that the standard of the LIA/Heidelberg Graduate of the Year Award presents”.

The LIA/Heidelberg Graduate of the Year Award is awarded to the top student in each state, with the winners becoming eligible to win the LIA/GAMAA National Graduate Award to be presented at the next LIA Biannual Conference in 2005.

Earlier in the night, there was a changing of the guard at the NSW division of the LIA, with Mitch Mulligan, Böttcher managing director stepping down after completing his two year term and ceding control to Grant Churchill, AE Hudson managing director.

Mulligan paid tribute to Churchill, saying, “Tonight is somewhat of an historic event for the LIA, as this is the first time in LIA history that the son of a past president has himself become a president.

“Grant has been a long serving, hard working and devoted committee member and as such the LIA has been passed into great hands. I wish Grant and his committee every success for the future.”

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