October 16, 2014
Ollie’s Mower Service in Kingaroy has been named “Business Of The Year” at the inaugural South Burnett Business Excellence Awards.
Owners Brett and Jacqui Irwin were presented with their trophy by Paul Francis, from sponsors Heritage Bank, at a gala awards ceremony organised by South Burnett Directions in the Kingaroy Town Hall on Wednesday night.
The Business of the Year was selected from the winners of the small, medium and large business categories at the awards. Ollie’s were successful in the Small Business category,
Compere for the night, John Carey, said Ollie’s Mower Service had a clear plan to grow their business through internet exposure, were continuously rationalising their product lines and were a strong supporter of future South Burnett generations by employing trainees and offering work experience opportunities to local high school students.
The Medium Business category was won by Bill Hull Car Centre in Kingaroy, and the Large Business category by the Burnett Business Centre.
Burnett Business Centre, which started in Nanango but has recently also opened an office in Kingaroy, has grown from a single practitioner in 1983 to a three-partner firm employing 32 staff.
Best Start Up was ROOM Motels, which was recently rated by TripAdvisor as the number one motel in Kingaroy.
The Best Start Up – Innovation Award went to Corey and Niki Goldie, managers of the Boondooma Dam Recreational Area. Their business started out as a small kayak business but has expanded over two years to managing three recreational areas in the South and North Burnett.
Stanwell sponsored a ‘Distinguished Service Award” which was presented to a long-standing business community member.
The popular winner was Earl Pratt, from Murgon, who has had a life-long association with the livestock industry as well as being heavily involved in the local community through the Murgon Show Society, St Joseph’s Catholic parish and the Murgon Dairy Museum.
The Pratt family has been involved in the livestock agency business in the Burnett since 1946 when Earl’s father Basil started a small agency in Murgon. Earl joined the family business in 1954. He still plays a part in Pratt Agencies with his son Paul.
Young Business Owner of the Year was James Giles, from James Giles Plumbing.
Blackbutt Medical Centre received the People’s Choice Award for the business which received the highest number of votes from customers.
“Jeff and Dr Daph Connor have not just set up a business, but have set up their home in the South Burnett,” John Carey said.
“They ‘live here because they love it’ and that shows through in their customer service standards.”
South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann said the awards were the brainchild of South Burnett Directions but would not have happened without the sponsorship of the Heritage Community Branch at Nanango.
He presented awards to outstanding businesses from five major South Burnett towns:
- Blackbutt – Blackbutt Medical Centre
- Nanango – Nanango Country Bakehouse
- Kingaroy – Proteco Gold
- Wondai – Ryan’s Butchery
- Murgon – Murgon Tyre And Auto
Mayor Kratzmann said it was easy not to be positive after floods and drought, but south-east Queensland was actually on the cusp of something very exciting … especially with the opening of the Wellcamp Airport.
He said he had attended a trade conference in Toowoomba recently where there were eight Trade Commissioners present, from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, China and India.
He said the South Burnett needed to grab hold of the opportunities which were coming “with both hands”.
- Related article: Business Awards Finalists Named
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Business Excellence Award Winners
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