South-West Small Business Awards a winner

03/05/03
Small Business Minister Clive Brown joined more than 300 people last night at the South-West Small Business Awards in Bunbury.
Small business owners from Harvey to Augusta came to acknowledge and congratulate their peers for outstanding work in their industry.
"The South-West region has built a strong reputation for success at the State Telstra Small Business Awards and that success is a reflection of the energy behind this prestigious event," Mr Brown said.
"Since 1995, the region has produced approximately one-third of WA's State finalists and winners and no doubt the region will continue to perform well in the State awards later this year.
"It is also timely to note that the South-West boasts the State's highest regional small business growth, with 21.9 per cent.
"Despite the challenges of the last few years - including drought, rising fuel prices and a drop in international tourism - the South-West small business sector continues to demonstrate its resilience and resourcefulness."

The overall 2003 category winners were:

• Albert Haak and Associates of Dunsborough was awarded The South West Business of the Year, sponsored by The South Western Times. This company was judged as the most outstanding business to enter the competition in this region.

• Donnelley Lakes of Pemberton won the category Business with five employees or fewer, sponsored by the Small Business Development Corporation.

• DAD Australia of Bunbury won the category Business with more than five employees but equal or less than 20, sponsored by the National Australia Bank.

• Albert Haak and Associates of Dunsborough won the category Business with more than 20 employees but equal or less than 50, sponsored by Telstra Country Wide.

• South West Waste Disposals of Picton won the category Business with fewer than 100 employees, sponsored by GWN Television.

The 2003 Regional Prize winners were:
Craven Foods of Bunbury won the Integrated Management Award, sponsored by ECU South West Campus (Bunbury). Kent Lyon Architects of Bunbury was the runner-up for this award
South West Waste Disposals of Picton won the Business Leadership Award, sponsored by A & L Printers. Balingup Heights Cedar Chalets was the runner-up.
Del-Ray Canvas Australia of Bunbury won the Business Planning Award sponsored by Patterson Pedler Pty Ltd. Bunbury Air Conditioning & Electrical Services of Bunbury was the runner-up for this award.
Queensberry IT of Margaret River won the E-Commerce Award, sponsored by Pacific Western. Bunbury Florist of Bunbury was the runner-up.
DAD Australia of Bunbury won the Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by the McNaughton Gardiner Insurance Brokers. Uniqco of Bunbury was the runner-up.
Glass House Graphic Design Studio of Busselton won the Innovation Award, sponsored by King Gibson Lewis. Jalbrook Balingup Classic Concert of Balingup was the runner-up.
South West Distributors of Bunbury won the Customer Culture Award, sponsored by Geographe. Pemberton Discovery Tours of Pemberton was the runner-up.
WA Skills Training of Bunbury won the Staff Development Award, sponsored by the Department of Education and Training. Progress Physiotherepy of Bunbury was the runner-up.
South West Computable of Cowaramup won the IT Award, sponsored by the South West Development Commission. Toogood Creative of Margaret River was the runner-up.
Donnelly Lakes of Pemberton won the Marketing Award, which was sponsored by Young and Young, Barristers and Solicitors. Cape Lavender of Vasse was the runner-up.
Combined Team Services of Bunbury won the Home Based Business Award, sponsored by West Country Office Machines. WA Law Training Services was the runner-up.
Albert Haak and Associates of Dunsborough was the employer of the Year, sponsored by The Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, Labour Relations Division. Boss Office National of Busselton was the runner-up.
Jack in the Box of Busselton was the winner of the Young Business Achiever Award, sponsored by The South West College of TAFE. Coastal Water Dive of Bunbury was the runner-up.
South West Native Seed Supply of Donnybrook was the winner of the Family Business Award, sponsored by The Laminex Group. Cloverdene Dairy of Margaret River was the runner-up for this award.
PR Direct of Dunsborough was the winner of the Business Development Award, sponsored by Entrepreneurship and Business Development Unit, Curtin University. Hidden Valley Forest Retreat of Margaret River was the runner-up for this award.
Blooming Beautiful of Yallingup was the winner of the Owner Operator Award, sponsored by The Bunbury Mail. Brazen Boutique of Bunbury was the runner-up for this award.
Mr Brown said each year the competition was stronger for these prestigious awards.
As a measure of this difficulty, the judges decided to grant two judges' commendation awards and two certificates of merit to businesses which deserved recognition for their accomplishments.
These were awarded to:
Judges' Commendation Awards: (Sponsored by AMD Chartered Accountants)

• Frontline Safety and Training of Bunbury
• Kingsley Motel of Manjimup.

Merit Awards (Sponsored by Home Building Society and Satterley Real Estate)

• Nelsons of Bridgetown
• Meadow Brooke Estate of Boyanup

Entries from the South-West region will now be compared against other entries across the State and, if selected, they will become finalists in the State Awards which are to be presented in Perth on July 18th 2003.
Minister's office: 9222 9699