A LIBRARY worker and pharmacy assistant took out the two top prizes in the Port Macquarie News Hastings Employee of the Year 2006 awards.
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Virginia Cox from Port Macquarie-Hastings Library was named Employee of the Year in the judged category, while The Medicine Chest pharmacy assistant/dispensary technician Melissa Grills was honoured in the readers' choice category.
Mrs Cox said she was very humbled to win the award.
"I had so many people come up to me at the library and tell me they voted for me," she said.
Mrs Cox also thanked the "mystery person" who nominated her and told the packed audience at Port Macquarie Panthers her victory was a team effort, commending all the Port Macquarie library staff for their support and hard work.
Coordinating judge Sue Blatherwick from Direction Accounting said it was "a tough task to determine a winner".
"How wonderful it is we have so many fantastic employers and employees here in the Hastings," she said.
Readers' choice category winner Melissa Grills said she was surprised but very proud to win the award.
"I love to help people and I've obviously helped, because they have supported me.
"I love making them leave feeling happy and it's payment enough to know they're feeling better or I've helped them."
Ms Grills thanked her bosses and family for their support.
Each of the two major winners received prizes totalling $8270.
Regional Publishers - North Coast Group regional manager Janine Buesnel summed up the gala awards night as a great success, due to the support of employers and employees: "It's great to have employees recognised and to really celebrate their achievements."
Port Macquarie News Hastings Employee of the Year 2006 winners
Judged category: encouragement award, Marion Clahane from Flynns Beach Medical Centre; runner-up Andrew Saville from Bliss Restaurant; employee of the year winner Virginia Cox from Port Macquarie Hastings Library; employer of the judges' choice winner, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
Readers' choice category: nominations prize winner Tracey Roberts; readers' voting prize winner, Bronte Charman; runner-up award Richard Henson from Hastings Macleay Community Transpoort Service; employee of the year, Melissa Grills from The Medicine Chest; employer of the readers' voting choice winner, The Medicine Chest.
