19 May 2008
Young printing stars shine at industry training awards
Charles Williams, from The Collie Print Trust, with Graduate of the Year, Gloria Manno, and ICGT Director, Robert Black.
Graduate Gloria Manno and apprentice Amanda Hay have taken the top prizes in the annual RMIT University Printing Industry Training Awards.
The awards celebrate the achievements of apprentices and graduates across the printing and graphic arts training packages offered by RMIT’s International Centre of Graphic Technology in Victoria and Tasmania.
Ms Manno, who completed the Diploma of Printing and Graphic Arts (Management/Sales) last year, was awarded The Collie Print Trust Graduate of the Year Award 2007.
Ms Hay, a Graphic Pre-Press Apprentice, was awarded The Collie Print Trust Apprentice of the Year Award 2007, which is presented to the outstanding final-level apprentice from the Graphic Pre-Press, Screen-printing, Print Machining and Print Finishing programs.
Both winners are eligible for a national or international study tour as part of their prizes.
Ms Manno works in Administration Sales Support at Edwards Dunlop Paper, a job she has held for more than two years, and said she was thrilled to win the award because of the many opportunities it offered.
“I chose to study at RMIT as I was eager to learn more and develop personally,” Ms Manno said.
“I would love to travel to DRUPA in Germany – the world’s largest trade show for the print and graphic arts industries.
Ms Manno celebrates her prize with Amanda Hay and Rebecca Downie, winner of the Diploma of Arts (Graphic Arts) Graduate Travel Scholarship.
“The award will allow me to advance within my current role and to learn more about the industry on a global scale.”
Ms Hay, who works as a Graphic Pre-Press Apprentice at Breen Printing Pty Ltd in Healesville, has had a strong interest in creative art since her early childhood.
She has been working in the printing and graphic arts industry for the past three years and during this time has developed a greater knowledge and real passion for the industry.
“I enjoy every aspect of my job and being trusted with responsibilities,” she said.
“I feel that I am a valuable member of the team and that I’m highly competent in all stages of Pre-Press, from discussing client’s requirements for artwork through to outputting plate and film in RIP.”
In 2007, Ms Hay won a gold medal in the WorldSkills Regional Competition for her work in Printing and Graphic Arts (Pre-Press), and this year was awarded the $1,200 Herb Thomas Memorial Trust Award to further her studies and professional development in the industry.
The 57th annual Printing Industry Training Awards were held at RMIT’s Storey Hall and attended by more than 400 industry representatives, along with family, friends and ICGT staff.
ICGT Director Robert Black said all the winners had demonstrated excellence in ability, knowledge and skills within their respective trade areas.
Apprentice of the Year Amanda Hay, pictured with Mr Williams and Mr Black.
“As in previous years, the award winners have provided the industry with an outstanding level of new tradespeople and graduates to take the industry forward into the 21st century,” Mr Black said.
With more than $40 million of state-of-the-art equipment, the ICGT (which is part of the School of Design (TAFE) at RMIT’s Brunswick campus), trains about 550 apprentices each year, plus 140 full and part-time certificate students.
The centre also trains with students from all over the world, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Mauritius, India, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
“To stay number one, ICGT now looks to the world for its benchmarks, such as the Rochester Institute in the USA and the Stuttgart University of Printing and Media in Germany,” Mr Black said.
“The Centre’s strong industry connections incorporate all the most influential industry representative bodies and the leading-edge suppliers and vendors.
“They are the kind of connections that make RMIT University the acknowledged leader of print and graphic technology training, setting standards in developing curriculum from national certificates to degree levels.”
