Mrs Sharrock, who was recently named in the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence, has had a massive 12 months with her digital midwifery service Birth Beat, including having the business picked up by health giants HCF.

Meanwhile Craig Vincent's Portable Horse Stables continue to sell before they even arrive in the country, after the local saw a gap in the equine market and created a product that perfectly filled it.

While Mr Vincent won the Startup Superstar Award, Mrs Sharrock qualified for the State Awards by picking up the Excellence in Innovation Award, and both are looking forward to Friday’s gala event at Luna Park.

“It has just been a bit of a rollercoaster,” Mr Vincent said.

“It is great to be recognised and get a bit of publicity, and the State Awards are also a great opportunity for me and my wife Gretel to have a staff Christmas party, because we are the entire staff.” 

For Mrs Sharrock the awards represent a change in perception of what can now be achieved in regional communities.

“Having two businesses from Tamworth and a full table of Tamworth people at the awards is great,” she said.

“It further reinforces that you don’t need to be living in the cities to start successful businesses – we are the lucky ones that get to do it from the country.”