Andrew Gee (Calare, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Saturday, I had the honour of attending Bathurst Business Chamber's Carillon Business Awards. The awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of our local businesses and the outstanding men and women behind them who contribute so much to the life of our communities. It was truly a night to remember.

Today, I pay tribute to this year's exceptional winners. Apprentice and Trainee of the Year went to Daisy Jones from the Bathurst Little Learning Centre. Excellence in Customer Service went to Dancin' Divas Pole Studio. Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion went to Colton Computer Technologies. Excellence in Innovation went to Be Active Physiotherapy. Excellence in Large Business went to Skillset Limited. Excellence in Small Business, five to 20 employees, went to Precision Martial Arts & Fit. Outstanding Community Organisation went to Central West Women's Health Centre. Outstanding Employee went to Dylan Donahue from Vivability. Outstanding Employer of Choice went to Glenray. Outstanding New Business went to Ayme Staffing. Outstanding Young Business Leader, 35 years or under, went to Kevin Walker of Vivability. Well done, Kevin! Outstanding Business Leader, 36 years plus, went to Warren Hickey of Precision Martial Arts & Fit. The People's Choice Award for Bathurst's Favourite Business went to Studio Duchess. The People's Choice Award for Bathurst's Favourite Tradie went to Riley Robinson from Devro. The People's Choice Award for Bathurst's Favourite Health, Fitness and Wellbeing Employee went to Matty Power from Cityfit. Well done, Matty! The People's Choice Award for Favourite Hospitality Organisation went to Cafe Viva. And Bathurst's most Outstanding Business went to Precision Martial Arts & Fit. Well done to Warren Hickey and his family. Congratulations to all of the winners.

I want to acknowledge and thank this year's event sponsors. The 2024 major sponsor was Kelso Electrical and Brad Schumacher. Brad was one of the MCs for the evening, and he did a sterling job. I also want to acknowledge Accumen Accountants and Business Advisors, Air Works Group, Bathurst RSL Club, Business NSW, Bathurst Regional Council and Charles Sturt University. CSU's Jac Underwood was also an MC and did an outstanding job. I also want to acknowledge GT Digital Solutions, Kenny Spring Solicitors, Inland Digital, Reliance Bank, Skillset, Vanessa Pringle Floral Designs, VERTO, Vivability, Cafe VIVA, 2BS 95.1 FM, 99.3 B-Rock FM and the Western Advocate. I also want to acknowledge the hardworking members of the Bathurst Business Chamber, including President Paul Jones, Graeme Burke, Secretary Sam Forbutt, Kate Gullifer, Sharn McIntosh and Isabel Fox.

It takes a lot to put on an awards ceremony of this scale, and the Bathurst Business Chamber did an outstanding job. You can see why they won the 2024 Western New South Wales Business Awards Outstanding Local Chamber. Well done to the Bathurst Business Chamber, and congratulations to all the nominees, winners, sponsors, the Bathurst Business Chamber and everyone who contributed to making the 2024 Carillion Business Awards such a success. (Time expired)