Port of Melbourne’s David Bardos (middle) with Outstanding Community Organisation award winners Boys to the Bush’s Tim Sanson (left) and Dean Whymark (right). Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A spectacular 2022 NSW Riverina Murray Business Award ceremony took place at the Whitton Malt House on Thursday 4 November, with social and community focused enterprises stealing the show, taking out a swag of prizes.
Albury-based Meet PAT – who design safe drinking water stations for schools, parks and major events – took out the major award of the night with the Business of the Year award, as well as the Excellence in Business prize.
The border city dominated the evening, securing six of the thirteen major awards. Wagga and Deniliquin enterprises picked up two awards each, while Corowa, Cootamundra and Griffith each secured one prize.
Main award winner Meet PAT. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Griffith’s Flavourtech, a global technology manufacturer specialising in aroma recovery, extraction and evaporation solutions for foods and beverages, added to their extensive trophy cabinet by taking out the Employer of Choice award.
“We pioneered the zero alcohol market 40 years ago, that’s what our equipment was originally meant to do … but for 35 years we were shown the door by wineries and big companies around the world who said, ‘Who’s gonna drink zero alcohol?’, but finally it’s happened,” Flavortech managing director Leon Skaliotis said after accepting the award.
Jabob Wolki, owner of Albury’s iconic Cycle Shop, took out the Outstanding Young Business Leader prize, while Emma Muller, a Cootamundra-based Indigenous mining and construction contractor enterprise owner, got the Outstanding Business Leader award.
Projectura, a Corowa-based health and community-focused consulting studio, took out the Region Riverina sponsored Excellence in Micro Business award.
“It’s an honour to receive this award, we’ve worked primarily with government but over the years we’ve expanded that … it’s been an exciting time for us as a micro business,” Projectura director Karina Dooley said.
Region’s Adam Drummond said he was extremely honoured to be able to present the award to Ms Dooley.
READ ALSO: Cootamundra celebrates community success at the annual business awards
Albury’s Boys to the Bush, who run programs to help disengaged young males, received a huge cheer when they were announced as the Outstanding Community award winners.
The awards night was originally planned for October, but rescheduled to early November due to the floods. This didn’t dampen attendance, with hundreds of people turning up, including business leaders, politicians, mayors and community advocates.
Leon Skaliotis and Rebecca Rosato of Flavourtech, winners of the Employer of Choice award. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The event was launched by Lyall Gorman, Business NSW President, Damien Tudehope MLC, Minister for Finance and Employee Relations, Anthony McFarlene, Regional Director Murray Riverina and David Bardos, Port of Melbourne. TV journalists Jessica McLaughlin and Jessica Whitty were the masters of ceremonies for the evening.
Follow Region for further reporting on the event over the next week.
First round of award winners. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
FULL LIST OF MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Outstanding Young Business Leader
Jacob Wolki (Albury)
Outstanding Business Leader
Emma Muller (Cootamundra)
Employer of Choice
Flavourtech (Griffith)
Excellence in Innovation
Meet PAT (Albury)
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
National Audits Group (Wagga Wagga)
Outstanding Community Organisation
Boys to the Bush (Albury)
Outstanding Start-up
Small Trading Co (Deniliquin)
Excellence in Micro Business
Projectura (Corowa)
Excellence in Small Business
Gilchrist Property Groups (Albury)
Excellence in Large Business
SunRice (Deniliquin/Leeton)
Excellence in Export
Meet PAT (Albury)
Outstanding Local Chamber
Wagga Wagga Business Chamber (Wagga)
Business of the Year
Meet PAT (Albury)
Loading ...
