Oberon Business and Tourism Association Business Awards 2018
The Oberon Business and Tourism Association hosted another very successful Business Awards dinner last Friday night at the RSL, with more than 220 people coming along to enjoy the special night. This event is held every second year to recognise and celebrate excellence and effort amongst Oberon’s local businesses.
Hon Paul Toole, Member for Bathurst, addressed the gathering prior to the awards presentations. He talked about investing in rural NSW and the $500,000 Oberon Council has received from the State Government for the new fitness centre. Mr Toole said, “(there are) 736,000 businesses in NSW. When small business does well, the State does well.” Mr Toole encouraged all the awardees to display their awards!
Special guest, Mayor of Parkes, Cr Ken Keith OAM, gave an inspiring address, focusing on Parkes’ growth in the last 15 years. He talked about the successes Parkes had achieved with the Elvis Festival and its growing importance as a transport centre. Parkes Council is currently seeking to establish the area as an Inland Rail and national logistics hub. Cr Keith emphasised the point that small business is very important to every community. The Parkes “love our locals” campaign has inspired local businesses to support and work together, which has proved contagious around the community. He said “for each $1 spent locally, 46% goes round again….Engage your local suppliers. It is important to make sure they are supported, as they will be the businesses that employ the young people of the town.”
The winners of the Business Awards were announced throughout the evening. The results are as follows:
- For Excellence in Agribusiness, Farming, Sustainability or Rural Achievement, Ray White Emms Mooney. The runner up was Oberon Industrial and Farming Supplies.
- For Excellence in Construction, Trades and Manufacturing, Oberon Concrete. The runner up was GWD Earthmoving.
- For Excellence in Food and Hospitality, The Universal Eatery. There were two runners up – A Little Taste of Thai and Oberon Farm Meats.
- For Excellence in Professional Services, Morse Group. The runner up was Kenny Spring Solicitors.
- For Excellence in Small Business (less than 20 employees) Tarana Hotel. The runner up was Westside Petroleum.
- For Excellence in Business (more than 20 employees), Mayfield Garden. The runner up was Mangan Logging.
- For Excellence in Tourism, Events or Promoting Oberon, Mayfield Garden. The runner up was Jenolan Holiday Park.
- For Excellence in Community Services, Rotary Club of Oberon. The runner up was Oberon Tarana Heritage Rail (OTHR).
- For Excellence in Health and Lifestyle, Oberon Pharmacy. The runner up was Full Circle Martial Arts.
- For Excellence in Business Innovation, The Laundry Pad. The runner up was Westside Petroleum.
- Outstanding Apprentice, Trainee or Young Employee. The winner was Dominica Koudren from Oberon Pharmacy. The runner up was Albert Whalan of Oberon Farm Meats.
- Best New Business – The winner was Oberon Smash Repairs. The runner up was Forever Bouquets.
- The Employee of the Year was Kim Mawhood, Morse Group. The runner up was Glenys Newstead, Ray White Emms Mooney.
There were also a large number of Highly Commended awards in the Employee of the Year category. These went to Bev Fisher, Oberon RSL Club; Chris Cole, Highland Pine Products; Dan Child, Mayfield Garden; Kristy Rusten, Shell Oberon; Rebecca Setter, Oberon Caravan Park; Peter Price, Oberon RSL Club; Lynne Causer, Oberon Visitor Information Centre. All the awards were decided by a panel of judges, nominated by the NSW Business Chamber. No local people were on that panel.
The winner of the People’s Choice award, sponsored by the Oberon Review and decided by the Oberon community’s votes went to Oberon RSL Club.
More information about OBTA can be see here