The Bega Valley Business Award Finalists have been announced today (Friday May 19)!
Over 900 nominations came in for Businesses and employees across the shire for the inaugural Business Awards which will be held in Merimbula on June 17.
While individual Chambers from Cobargo, Bega, Tathra, Merimbula, Pambula and Eden have held their own business awards in the past, this is the first time there has been shire wide awards ceremony.
The Bega Valley Business Forum which represents the six Chambers in the Bega Valley will put on the awards at Club Sapphire which will be hosted by Power FM Bega Bay’s Breakfast show co-host Brad Blissett.
Chair of the Forum Nigel Ayling said, “We were very pleased with the response, and it was great to see so much diversity in the nominations. Our judges looked a range of criteria in assessing the finalists and with so many good nominations it will be very hard to select the winners.”
Nominations were made via the Bega Valley Business website or in person at various locations across the shire.
AND THE FINALISTS ARE:
Bega Valley Business Awards
Excellence in Innovation and Sustainability
a. Green Queen
b. Tathra Beach House Apartments
c. Saarinen Organics
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
a. Tulgeen Disability Service
b. Combat House – Pambula
c. Cheryl’s Personal Support Services – Bega
Outstanding Community Organisation (not for profit) sponsored by 2EC and Power FM
a. Sapphire Community Projects Inc – Bega
b. Bega Valley Meals on Wheels – Bega
c. Sapphire Life Opportunities – Merimbula
Excellence in Construction, Trades and Services
a. Ardy’s Automotive – Pambula
b. GB Mechanical Repairs -Eden
c. Greg Eastman Electrical – Bega
Excellence in Retail
a. Darcie Nicol Floral Design – Bega
b. Dodd & Dwyer Capital Chemist Merimbula
c. Eden Antiques and Collectables
Excellence in Health, Beauty and Wellness
a. In2skin – Merimbula
b. Lisa Jane Skin and Beauty – Bega
c. Tathra Beach Personal Training Studio
Excellence in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
a. Dwyer Properties – Merimbula
b. Bermagui Veterinary Clinic
c. Commonwealth Bank Australia – Bega
Excellence in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
a. Australian Training Company – Merimbula
b. Bega Motorcycles
c. Supply Central – Eden
Excellence in Hospitality
a. Club Sapphire
b. Cobargo Hotel Motel
c. Toast Cafe Pambula
Outstanding Visitor Experience (Tourism)
a. Great southern Trike tours – Eden
b. Tathra Beach Eco Camp
c. Tiny Zoo – Tathra
Employer of Choice (must be nominated by existing employees)
a. East Coast Radio – Bega
b. Carmen Thomson – Merimbula
c. Florabel – Eden
Excellence in Micro Business (1-5 employees)
a. Coast Property Group – Merimbula
b. Wendy’s Mobile Vet – Eden
c. Daisy Hill Photography – Buckajo
Excellence in Small Business (6-9 employees)
a. Sapphire Conveyancing – Merimbula
b. G H Mechanical – Bega
c. Coast Hire Bega
Excellence in Large Business (20+ employees)
a. Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care Ltd
b. Support Services 2 You – Bega
c. Acora – Eden
Outstanding Male Employee (25yrs and over)
a. Thomas Marshman – Big W Bega
b. Phillip Shipton – Support Services 2 You
c. Tim Smith – Merimbula Vision
Outstanding Female Employee (25yrs and over)
a. Danielle Crowe – WMD Law Bega
b. Paula Teale – Pambula Village Dental Practice
c. Morgan Cruikshank – Pambula Tiles
Outstanding Business Leader
a. Damien Foley – Club Sapphire
b. Danielle Pearson – Sapphire Conveyancing
c. Emma Keft – East Coast Radio
Outstanding Young Business Leader/Employee (25yrs and under)
a. Shayd Measures – CBA Bega
b. Ely Jenkins – Bega Betta Home Living
c. Anthea Charalambous – Telstra Bega
Finalists will soon be contacted by local photographer Robert Hayson who will be visiting the business to take photos and get some more information about the businesses.
The awards night is on Saturday 17 June at Club Sapphire and it will be a black tie event. Tickets will go on sale from 25 May. Initially ticket sales will be limited to finalists with each business being able to purchase up to 4 tickets. After that any remaining tickets will go on sale.
For more information go to www.begavalleybusiness.com.au
Images: Dodd & Dwyer Pharmacy, Sapphire Conveyancing, East Coast Radio