Big Springs Water the big winner at the Golden Crow Awards

Big Springs Water has taken out the Golden Crow at the Wagga Business Chamber’s annual awards.

Hundreds attended the first in-person celebration in three years as businesses across 15 categories were recognised.

Wagga Business Chamber’s business manager Serina Hardwick said it was a relief to be able to gather in person.

“It’s the biggest one that we’ve had in our 38-year history, so we’re very pleased with how that turned out,” she said.

“Throughout COVID, our businesses have been excelling, but it’s definitely a much nicer atmosphere to be able to celebrate with them face to face.”

Big Springs Water took out not only the Golden Crow Award but won for excellence in business and excellence in sustainability.

Angus Wilson manages the family-owned and operated company and said it was a proud moment.

“I think we got a shock just when we got the first award and then when we got the sustainability I thought, Wow, unbelievable – but to then take home the Crow, it was a great honour,” he said.

“We’re proud of the company we’ve built and what we’ve been doing and then to have mum and dad there and my wife and then the team, it was fantastic!”

The Wilson family has owned Big Springs Station for more than 150 years and launched its natural spring water company in 1994.

As well as expanding in recent years, the company was officially certified carbon neutral earlier this year.

Ms Hardwick said this achievement was a big factor in their success on the night.

“They displayed the values of not only being excellent in business, but having excellent social and community outcomes as well,” she said.

“They are the first New South Wales spring water company to go carbon neutral, so it’s not only having those values to do something but to be able to have that sustainability outcome definitely stood out.”

Mindful of concerns over single-use plastic water bottles, Mr Wilson said Big Springs Water had worked hard on its environmental approach, with small bottles making up only 4 per cent of the business.

“The fact that our business is built on a returnable model differentiates us,” he said.

“We also now manufacture returnable bottles, which we sell to other independent water companies here in Australia.”

Looking more broadly across the winners in the 15 catagories, Ms Hardwick said it was reflective of a healthy economy.

“There is a lot of diversity in the finalists and winners across the 15 categories that were announced, which clearly demonstrates the thriving
ecosystem of businesses operating in Wagga Wagga,” she said.

Here’s the full list of winners for 2022:

• Outstanding Employee – Gemma Lamont – Alan Harris McDonald
• Outstanding Young Business Leader – Danielle Nye – National Audits Group
• Outstanding Business Leader – Grant Harris – Raine & Horne
• Employer of Choice – Riverina Oils
• Excellence in Innovation – Prefabulous
• Excellence in Sustainability – Big Springs Water
• Outstanding Community Organisation – Squad Employment and Training
• Outstanding Start Up – Small Stars
• Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion – National Audits Group
• Excellence in Micro Business – Cobrapparel
• Excellence in Small Business – Knights Deli
• Excellence in Business – Big Springs Water
• Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety – Charles Sturt Campus Services
• Excellence in Business Ethics – Alan Harris McDonald
• People’s Choice – Pattison & Co Physiotherapy
• The Golden Crow Award – Big Springs Water