TIME TO HAVE fun: Kicking up their heels at last night’s awards were, from left, Renae Galea, Hayley Dunst and Alitia Upchurch from the Telstra Tamworth Business Centre, and Karly Davidson, from Edwards O’Conner Charted Accountants. Photo: Robert Chappel 210912RCC04
THE Tamworth business community’s night of nights was a celebration of achievement, good service and hard work, when hundreds came together for the Tamworth Business Chamber’s Quality Business Awards last night.
Twenty-seven awards were presented, with the winners selected from hundreds of nominations.
Two major awards were also presented. The Noel Park Award, named in honour of the late Noel Park, who served as the member for Tamworth for many years, was presented to Carlo Cavallaro for his contribution to the business community. Mr Cavallaro’s company, the Cavallaro Group, owns and operates the IGA supermarkets in Robert St and Calala.
The Young Business Person of the Year Award acknowledged Chris Watson, who operates Travelworld in Tamworth.
The crowd enjoyed the prowess of compere and former Tamworth resident bush poet Murray Hartin.
COMMUNITY RAISES TOAST TO THE BEST
THE achievements of the Tamworth business community of the past 12 months were celebrated at the Tamworth Business Chamber’s Quality Business Awards at TRECC last night.
The awards are designed to recognise businesses in and around Tamworth for excellence and outstanding quality.
Chamber organiser Marjolyn Thomas said one of the most exciting things about the night was the number of businesses nominated for the first time.
“There are a number of smaller businesses that were recognised for the first time. That was exciting, not just for them but for the city, because it shows we have a lot to offer,” Mrs Thomas said.
The big gongs of the night were awarded to Baiada, Strike and Nymans Smash Repairs, which were named the winners of the chamber’s Business of the Year in their respective regional, small and large business categories.
Baiada was also named the winner of the Excellence in Innovation award.
Strike won the Excellence in Tourism and Sport
category.
Nymans was also honoured as the winner of the Excellence in Motor Transport Sales/Service for a Large Business award.
Respected local grocer and owner of Tamworth’s Carlo’s IGA supermarkets, Carlo Cavallaro, was named the winner of the prestigious Noel Park Award.
Travelworld Tamworth’s Chris Watson was named the Young Business Person of the Year.
A number of small businesses were among those to be nominated this year.
Mrs Thomas said she had been pleased to see businesses never nominated before be acknowledged.
As part of the judging process, about 30 judges anonymously visited nominated businesses during a couple of weeks in August in the lead-up to the final judging conducted on September 6.
