Chrys McDuffie and Mayor Kathy Duff accepted the Business of the Year Award on behalf of the South Burnett Regional Council from Rotary Satellite Club of Kingaroy Sunrise past president Mark Pitt
May 30, 2025
South Burnett Regional Council took home the major award at the 3rd annual South Burnett Training Awards, held in Murgon Town Hall last Saturday night.
The Council was presented with the Business of the Year Award, recognising the training programs offered to its employees.
The South Burnett Training Awards are organised by the Rotary Satellite Club of Kingaroy Sunrise which was formed in 2022.
They aim to celebrate the achievements and aspirations of trainees, apprentices and their employers across the South Burnett region.
Nominations are invited from businesses and organisations in the South Burnett and Cherbourg council areas.
A large crowd of business representatives and their employees gathered to hear the announcement of the awards and enjoy a two-course dinner.
The winners in five categories were assessed by three independent judges: Jason Kinsella, Bec Cross and Rowena Dionysius.
Each judge worked independently to assess the entries, and then the Rotary Satellite Club tallied up the points.
“It wasn’t really until the last judge came in this year that we were able to decide the winners,” Rotary Satellite Club of Kingaroy Sunrise past president Mark Pitt said.
He said it had been a quality field of candidates with close results. For example, the Business category had been decided by less than one point.
The winners were:
School-Based Trainee / Apprentice of the Year – Lilly White (Seed Employment)
Equity Award – Karin McShane (Goodstart Early Learning)
Trainee of the Year – Chloe Smith (ATC Consulting Engineers & Project Managers)
Apprentice of the Year – Brylie Jones (Stanwell’s Tarong Power Station)
Business of the Year – ATC Consulting Engineers & Project Managers (Small category); AMG Electrical Solutions (Medium category), South Burnett Regional Council (Large category and Overall winner)
Alain Pillay, from platinum sponsors Building Industry Training Pty Ltd, presented the Vocational Medallion to an outstanding trainee of apprentice who epitomised the value of training in the South Burnett.
The winner of this prestigious medal was Karin McShane (Goodstart Early Learning).
As well, Rotary Pride Of Workmanship Awards – which celebrate the ethos of “Do It Once, Do It Well” – were presented to 12 people on behalf of the Kingaroy Rotary and Murgon Rotary clubs: Matt McMurdy, Michael Hunter, Emily Donnelly, Karin McShane, Rachel Jolley, Jacob Birch, Maree Daniels, Ebony Wessling, Katrina Wessling, Karen Graham, Patrick Noakes and Hailey Heness.
Rotary Satellite Club Of Kingaroy Sunrise members Cr Danita Potter and Mark Pitt presented a “thank you” gift to Nicola Pitt who did much of the organisation for the awards
Compere for the night John Carey with Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson who did the Welcome To Country
Working hard at the welcome desk were Sunrise members David and Melissa Tierney
South Burnett councillors were out in force, from left, Deputy Mayor Jane Erkens, Cr Heath Sander, Cr Linda Little, Mayor Kathy Duff, Cr Danita Potter, Cr Ros Heit and Cr Deb DennienSpecial Rotary guests at the awards were District Governor-Elect Mark Williams, from Mundubbera, and Area Governor Bob Minchin, from DalbyJarrod Edwards, from Murgon’s Rockin Our Abilities, provided the live music
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Awards Gallery
Daniel Pelcl presented the Burnett Today School-Based Trainee / Apprentice Of The Year Award to Lilly White (Seed Employment)Allen Christensen presented the ATC Consulting Engineers & Project Managers Equity Award to Karin McShane (Goodstart Early Learning)Nicola Pitt. right, presented the LG Media Services Trainee of the Year Award to Chloe Smith (ATC Consulting Engineers & Project Managers)Nicola with the three Trainee of the Year finalists … Bridgette Bushel (SBRC), Chloe Smith and Caitlin Franklin (SBRC)Linchon Hawks presented the Sunpork Group Apprentice of the Year Award to Brylie Jones (Stanwell’s Tarong Power Station)Linchon with the four Apprentice of the Year Award finalists … Brylie Jones, Ben Feather (Cheshire Machinery), Ellie Bailey (Chris Cross Hair Studio) and Max Williams (Cheshire Machinery)Mark Pitt (Rotary Satellite Club of Kingaroy Sunrise, at right) with the Business of the Year Award finalists SB Care (Bruce Jay), Murgon & District Services & Citizens Memorial Club Inc, South Burnett Regional Council (Mayor Kathy Duff and Chrys McDuffie), My Wellness Bar (Belinda Lewis) and ATC Consulting Engineers & Project Managers (Allen Christensen)Alain Pillay, from Building Industry Training Pty Ltd, presented the Vocational Medallion to Karin McShaneKingaroy and Murgon Rotary Club representatives with the Rotary Pride of Workmanship Aware recipients … (not in order) Matt McMurdy, Michael Hunter, Emily Donnelly, Karin McShane, Rachel Jolley, Jacob Birch, Maree Daniels, Ebony Wessling, Katrina Wessling, Karen Graham, Patrick Noakes and Hailey Heness
