It's the glittering night of nights when all the hard-working Hastings business people put on their glad rags and come to celebrate the best in our community.
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Taking the top gong for Business of the Year was MBC Recruitment, which excels in temporary and permanent recruitment, labour hire, traffic management, nursing agency staffing, healthcare services and is a registered NDIS provider. Manager Sunette Deline was thrilled to accept the award for the company, which won several others, and paid tribute to the staff.
"I want to say thank you so much to this awesome team. They work themselves stupid until nine o'clock most nights. We have 600 employees. Thank you," she said.
Charles Sturt University was inducted into the Hall of Fame. The director of external engagement, Kate Wood-Foye said that as a new girl, she couldn't claim any of the fabulous success the team have achieved.
"Charles Sturt is very much part of our community. I'm very proud of this amazing team, in learning, sustainability and the environment. It's such an exciting year for us. We are heading into stage two of the campus build and we are announcing new courses for the coming year. I represent a wonderful team, and we wouldn't be here without our amazing community," said Ms Wood-Foye.
The inaugural Wayne Jackson Outstanding Community Service Award went to the local organising committee chairman for Ironman Australia Port Macquarie, Mike Reid. He said it was an emotional award for him.
"If this award is about Ironman, I have got the biggest team in Port Macquarie: 2,500 volunteers and 20 directors who make it what it is.
"To me, Wayne was a very special man. He wasn't only an Ironman. He was a community man, a family man, and a really special man to us. It was always family first. Thank you for this. It's the most special thing I have ever got in my life," said Mr Reid.
Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce president Michael Mowle said the celebration of local business grows stronger every year.
"The Chamber embraces the opportunity to showcase local business and recognise the contributions each business makes to our growing economy," Mr Mowle said.
Regional manager for the Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber Kellon Beard said winners of the excellence awards will now proceed to the regional business awards finals and pit them against the best of the Macleay and Coffs Coast.
Mr Beard praised the quality of entries in this year's awards.
"It has provided our judges with a satisfying challenge. We are lucky to work in such an engaging and supportive business community," he said.
Here is the list of winners:
- Business of the Year: MBC Recruitment
- Hall of Fame Inductee: Charles Sturt University
- Wayne Jackson Outstanding Community Service Award: Mike Reid
- Accommodation: Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel
- Automotive Services: CS Mechanical Repairs and Services
- Childcare, Education & Training: Men At Work Training & Assessment
- Community & Social Services: Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialists
- Construction: FastPlast Building Supplies
- Creative Services & Communications: Radio 531
- Financial Services: Coastline Credit Union
- Food Production & Catering: Timbertown Pies
- Hair & Beauty Services: VANITY Medi Spa
- Hotels, Clubs & Bars: Settlers Inn Hotel
- Industry, Manufacturing & Engineering: Bennetts Steel
- Medical, Healthcare & Fitness: Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Clinic
- New Business: Alex Glen-Holmes Real Estate Training
- Professional & Business Services (5 or less employees): Wauchope Travel
- Professional & Business Services (6 or more employees): MBC Recruitment
- Real Estate & Residential Services: HEM Property Port Macquarie
- Restaurants & Cafes: Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant
- Retail (5 or less employees): Touchwood Flowers
- Retail (6 or more employees): Harvey Norman Computers Port Macquarie
- Tourism & Attractions: The Koala Hospital
- People's Choice: The Koala Hospital
- Woman in Business: Stacey Morgan (Port Macquarie Performing Arts)
- Excellence in Work Health & Safety: Port Macquarie Performing Arts
- Outstanding Young Employee: Kayla Fuller (Touchwood Flowers)
- Outstanding Young
- Entrepreneur: Daniel Parry-Hawkins (DPH Handyman & Yard Maintenance)
- Outstanding Business Leader: Stacey Morgan (Port Macquarie Performing Arts)
- Excellence in Social Enterprise: Octec Limited
- Start Up Superstar: First State Allstars
- Excellence in Innovation: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail
- Excellence in Sustainability: The Koala Hospital
- Excellence in Export: Cassegrain Winery
- Outstanding Employer of Choice: MBC Recruitment
- Excellence in Micro Business (less than 5 employees): Touchwood Flowers
- Excellence in Small Business (5 - 20 employees): Wauchope Country Club
- Excellence in Business (21 or more employees): MBC Recruitment