Melbourne Water’s ‘10,000 Raingardens’ takes out $20k top prize at the Postcard of the Year Awards

Australia’s leading freecard media company Avant Card last night announced the winner of its prestigious Postcard of the Year (POTY) Awards with a sparkling celebration at Sydney’s Madame Tussauds.

Melbourne Water took out the $20,000 top prize for their ingenious 10,000 Raingardens campaign, featuring a ‘seeded card’ postcard designed for planting. Runners up were Nudie in second place, and Perth Festival in third.

Now in its sixth year, the POTY Awards were created by Avant Card managing director Pat Mackle to promote and inspire creativity and innovation in postcard advertising.

Says Mackle: “This year’s competition was our most competitive yet, with some stunning creative campaigns from around the country.

“Melbourne Water’s brilliant planting card sent the competition green, quite literally, and we applaud them on their inventiveness and slick execution.”

Finalists in this year’s awards were selected monthly by a panel of Australia’s leading creative directors and advertising directors who awarded points for creativity, insight and strategy.

Says Keysha Milenkovic, project leader 10,000 Raingardens, Melbourne Water: “Not only were my team and I exceptionally pleased with the outcome of the postcard campaign, this award brings with it the bonus of creating further awareness of raingardens, and how they help to manage stormwater run-off and help protect our rivers and creeks.”

The guest list at the awards ceremony included top advertisers from around the country, nominees and their creative teams, guest judges, Avant Card clients and media.

Guest judges included: Kevin Moreland – Managing Director, BCM, Tom Spicer – Joint National Creative Director, Arnold Furnace, Samantha Begg – Creative Director, Traffic, Michael Berry – Creative Director, HBT Agency, David Ponce de León – Creative Director, BD Australia Network, Gary Horner, Executive Creative Director, The Brand Agency, Matt Johnson – Creative Director, Grey Canberra, James Rickard – Creative Director, KWP! Advertising, Tahnee Le Pine – Art Director, Cyclone, Sandra Hind – Co-Owner and Copywriter, the hoopla family, Lisa Taylor – Creative Director, Imagination, Warrick Sears – Art Director, Red Jelly.