Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Businesses in our region are never shy to showcase themselves or have a well-deserved event to celebrate. The 2018 Shoalhaven Business Awards winners were absolutely no exception. In fact, it has become quite a tradition, and this year we saw many new names added to the list of outstanding excellence. Due to family reasons I was not able to attend. However, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate each one of the winners.

Terry Rayner of ANZ Mobile Lending, South Coast and Southern Highlands, was named the Business Leader of the Year. Elise Gooda of Think Tank Business Services won Outstanding Young Employee of the Year. Our champion Young Entrepreneur is Dale Berry of Peak Fitness Huskisson. Cupitt's is on fire with accolades from so many sources, but locally gained awards for Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality, Excellence in Sustainability and Business of the Year. The team at My Travel Expert were awarded for Excellence in Small Business. Nowra Farmers Market was the winner for Excellence in Business and Excellence in Retail and Personal Services. Avalon Bourne with her foundation of Sonder Youth was listed as the winner for the Start Up Superstar award. Natalie Allan Consulting won Excellence in Innovation. The Employer of Choice was won by Hotondo Southcoast Pty Ltd, and a very good choice that was. They do amazing work for some groups and causes who just don't have the money for themselves.

Excellence in Community Service was won by Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, and they are a game changer for cultural immersion and care for children and country. Pepperell & Associates won the Excellence in Professional and Commercial Enterprise award. The Outstanding Home-Based Business was Think Tank Business Services. The Flagstaff Group, one of the many amazing disability employers, won Excellence in Workplace Safety. The Employee of the Year is Sarah Tebbutt, working at Eliza's Lighting. Kimberlie & Co Cleaning were the winners of Excellence in Workplace Inclusion. Excellence in Social Responsibility was won by Nowchem. This company is quite exemplary in all that it does: sponsoring trainees, apprentices, youth activities, youth leadership enterprise, participating in local CBD events, attending a raft of business forums and employment forums, and the list just goes on. Frankly, if every business were in a position to echo this, the whole of Gilmore would be up in lights for excellence in achievement.

Congratulations to all these local businesses who have demonstrated excellence in their unique and wonderful ways. Not only that, they are all helping to reduce the unemployment levels in Gilmore. We've dropped from almost 30 per cent youth unemployment, when I was first elected in 2013, and we are now down to just over 14 per cent. I have to thank all of the organisations and all of the businesses in Gilmore who have been part of this game changer by employing youth in my region.