The premier social event of the year, The Coastline Credit Union Greater Port Macquarie Business Award were held (after a couple of delays) on the Friday 13th May and what a fantastic night it was! Well worth the wait. A huge thank you to all of the committee that put in many hours of work to make the night spectacular. Also thank you to our sponsors, without you this would not be possible. Our MC’s, the very funny Andy Saunders and ever elegant, Vanessa Lawrence from The Style Vibe Creative, did a great job on keeping us to time and ensuring that everything ran smoothly whilst also very entertaining. A heart felt thank you on a big job well done to Panthers and their staff for the fantastic service on the night. Congratulations to all of the finalists and the winners. Our Region is blessed to have so many wonderful businesses. The winners are:
Accommodation – Sails Port Macquarie by Rydges
Automotive Services – Leicht’s Tyre & Auto
Childcare, Education & Training – The Posify Group
Community & Social Services – Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services
Construction – TV Magic Mid North Coast
Creative Services & Communications – Arthouse Industries
Financial Services – Berry Financial Services
Food Production & Catering – The Other Chef Fine Foods
Hair & Beauty Services -VANITY Medi Spa
Hotels, Clubs & Bars – Panthers Port Macquarie
Industry, Manufacturing & Engineering – SMP Fabrication Pty Ltd
Medical, Healthcare & Fitness – Hastings Physio & Health
New Business – Coast Eco Cleaning
Professional & Business Services (5 or less employees) – Dare 2 Care
Professional & Business Services (6 or more employees) -Integer IT Pty Ltd
Real Estate & Residential Services – Port Property Professionals
Restaurants & Cafes – Round & Round Coffee
Retail (5 or less employees) – Mid Coast Uniform Solutions
Retail (6 or more employees) – Harvey Norman Computers
Tourism & Attractions – Billabong Zoo Koala & Wildlife Park
People’s Choice – Chop n Chill
Woman in Business (Hastings Business Women’s Network) – Jo Hollis (All Disability Plan Management)
Community Impact Award, To Create a World Worth Living In – Rampage Marine & Fabrication
Excellence in Work Health & Safety – Birdon
Outstanding Employee – Anthony D’Angelo (Eastern Air Services)
Outstanding Young Business Leader – Guy Terkelsen (Hastings Physio and Health)
Outstanding Business Leader – David Ross (Direction Accounting and Business Coaching)
Employer of Choice – All Disability Plan Management
Excellence in Innovation – Birdon
Excellence in Sustainability – Sunny’s Skips
Outstanding Community Organisation – Lifeline Mid Coast
Excellence in Micro Business – DPH Handyman & Yard Maintenance
Excellence in Small Business- Hastings Physio & Health
Excellence in Business – Whalebone Wharf
Business of the Year – Whalebone Wharf
2021 Wayne Jackson Outstanding Community Service Award – Sandra Slattery
A special mention to our Hall of Fame inductees:
Bennetts Steel, CS Mechanical Repairs & Service, Cassegrain Wines, FastPlast Building Supplies, MBC Recruitment, Port Macquarie Performing Arts & Touchwood Flowers.
And a huge congratulations to our Business of The Year, Whalebone Wharf. It was not only wonderful to see everyone dressed up but also great that we could all mingle and interact again. After the presentations were done the dance floor came alive with Gotcha Covered. I bet there were some sore feet the next day. Preparations will shortly begin for our 2023 awards. (It never ends!)
Wednesday 18th May Business Port Macquarie combined with Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association, Micro Business Forum, Hastings Business Women’s Network & Business NSW to present a Meet The Federal Candidates for the Business Community. The evening was well attended and gave further insight into what plans there are for business. Small Business is the biggest business in Australia so we need to ensure that it is well supported. A big thank you to the candidates. Regardless of who you support these candidates have a strong enough conviction to put themselves out there to represent us and our need to government. Not only does the campaigning take up a lot of their time but they are also subject to the good, bad and often the ugly of human nature so thank you for standing up for our Region.
Tuesday 24th May we were excited to meet with Charles Sturt University and introduce the business community to Axiom. We heard why Port Macquarie was the obvious choice for Axiom Co-Founders CEO Mike Reth and CIO Sergei Abrosimov, as they introduced their recently appointed Australian Executive GM Andrew Rhodes who will be based on campus running the Australian operations. There are many opportunities for businesses in Port Macquarie to work in partnership. If you would like to know more get in touch with us here at Business Port Macquarie and we will arrange an introduction.
Thursday 9th June with award winning local, Jane Hillsdon, who presents throughout the country joining us to educate us of What we need to know about marketing in our business even if we outsource it. Jane offers some great ideas and practical tips so you don’t want to miss this one. Go to www.portchamber.com.au to register.
I would like to introduce our new Executive Officer, a friendly extremely efficient lady who has been our knowledge backbone in the office for the past 11 years and a familiar face and voice to many in the business community. Please joining me in congratulating Katherine Harris on her new role. Katherine can be contacted on the new Chamber office number 0422 562 300 Monday-Friday from 9am -3pm.
Have a great month and remember …”Opportunities don’t happen, you create them”- Chris Grosser
Alex
