12 THE MAITLAND MERCURY � Wednesday, September 25, 2013 www.maitlandmercury.com.au

KERRY HALLETT

This year’s Hunter RegionBusiness Excellence Awards werepossibly the best ever conductedby the Hunter Region BEC.

The awards were originallyknown as The Cessnock/KurriKurri Small Business Awards andstarted in September 1993,covering the businesses of theCessnock Shire only.

Over the years they grew toencompass the Maitland andDungog shires and becameknown as the Lower HunterBusiness Excellence Awards.

In 2007 the awards wererenamed the “Hunter RegionBusiness Excellence Awards” andwere opened to businessesthroughout the Hunter region.

Fairfax Regional Media (TheAdvertiser and The MaitlandMercury) have been major spon-

sors of the awards since 2000, withBeyond Bank (formerlyCompanion Credit Union),Cessnock and Maitland Councilsand Akuna Care coming on boardsince then.

Our trophies have been hand-

made by Setsuko of Ogishi Glassfor a number of years and aremuch sought after.

We have also had excellent sup-port from our support sponsors fora number of years includingMaitland, Cessnock, Kurri Kurri,

Singleton and MuswellbrookBusiness Chambers, bothMaitland and Cessnock BPW andlocal businesses which this yearincluded.

This year’s event was held at thebeautiful Cypress Lakes.

The food, wine, weather andcompany were superb.

Vibe Music was our very talent-ed entertainment for the evening,and Nicole Florence Photographysupplied our photos.

The feedback received to datefor the evening has been most pos-itive.

The challenge now is to contin-ue to reach this standard in thecoming years.

There were 98 nominationsreceived, with 69 finalists.

Our judges worked hardthroughout August to come to theirfinal decisions.

They were impressed with the

standard of customer service frommost of the nominations and urgethem to keep up the good work.

The site visits accounted for athird of the overall marks, with theother two-thirds coming from thewritten submissions.

We would have loved all of ourfinalists to have received an awardbut unfortunately there can only beone winner.

The big winners on the nightwere Banjo’s Bushland Retreatwhich took out the trophy forTourism and Accommodation andBusiness of the Year, StephanieMortel of Mortels SheepskinFactory who won BusinessWoman of the Year and BryceGibson of LJ Hookers Cessnockwho secured the inaugural YoungEntrepreneur.

Congratulations to these winners and all the winners of individual categories.

New heights for awards night

HOME BASED BUSINESS:Lyn Collinson of Colour Monkey.

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More images online at Cessnock Advertiser and MaitlandMercury websites. Images can be purchased from the

Maitland Mercury’s office

BUSINESS SERVICES: BottrellBusiness Consultants’ Gavin andRebecca Bottrell. 060913SS091

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OFTHE YEAR: BryceGibson. 060913SS154

NEW START: Ryan Taylor, Tracey Burgess,Nathan Ison and Brett Mullins of iGym. 060913SS138

EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION: Norman andNoleen Ballard of Hummingbird Electronics.

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ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE INBUSINESS: Lois and Michael Valantine of MVSolar. 060913SS142

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Services include:

• Alarms

• Guards• Patrols

• CCTV

Providing Security to:

• Mining

• Industrial

• Commercial

• Residential

Call now for a FREE on-site security analysis

4960 6800www.newcastlesecurity.com.au

Master Licence 409539204

Proud winner of the 2013 BEC Awards

BEC 2013 WINNERS

• Delightful sweet & savoury crepes • Breakfast • Lunch • Coffee & cake• Delightful sweet & savoury crepes • Breakfast • Lunch • Coffee & cake• Fondue • Handmade chocolates • Home made waffles • Pancake stacks• Fondue • Handmade chocolates • Home made waffles • Pancake stacks

EEXXTTEENNSSIIVVEE GGLLUUTTEENN FFRREEEE MMEENNUU AAVVAAIILLAABBLLEE

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www.cupzncrepes.com.au

Mindaribba LALC identifies communityneeds and facilities provision of required services by utilising resourcesof the LALC and other available fundingsources in a transparent fashion for theshort term & long term benefits of the community.

Mindaribba LALC consists of a diverseteam of Aboriginal & non Aboriginalpeople who are working together tosupport the ongoing development of avital service for our children andcommunity members futures.

1a Chelmsford Drive,Metford.

PH 4015 7000admin@mindaribbalalc.org.

www.mindaribbalalc.org.

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Hunter Region Business Excellence AwardsTHE WINNERS ARE

TARGETED Fitness - is a small private training studio located at66 King Street East Maitland in the Maitland Health SpecialistCentre. Offering three fully equipped gym rooms we provide a private, relaxed, quiet environment with personalized serviceand individually designed programs tailored to your needs tohelp you achieve your personal health and body goals.

Also offering 12 week Lifestyle Transformation programs, Studio (Mat work) Pilates, Boot Camp, Teen and Kids gym. All sessions are conducted by fully qualified and highly knowledgeable Personal Trainers. NO contracts. For more information www.targetedfitness.com.au or call 0249 338 522

ROADwhyz is a community driven project initiated in 2007 toadress the ever increasing rate of young driver fatalities (17-25yr olds) and injuries accurring through road trauma. It is a hardhitting factual educational program reinforcing the message of‘choice and consequence’ while travelling in a motor vehicle. Demand is such that it has now expanded to Victoria.

The ROADWHYZ - ‘Choice and Consequence’ program isaimed at Learner drivers, their parents as well as L & P platedrivers with the aim to provide all involved with the tools, skillsand knowledge needed to stay safe on our roads. For more information www.roadwhyz.com or call Michelle on 0413 676 026.

Shop 2, 465 High Street, Maitland.

Ph: 4933 1812

Inspirations

Long Hair & Wedding Specialistalso Master Colourist Salon.

Specialising in Langdon Hair Extenstions

& Keratin Hair Straightening. To Celebrate our Win we are offering a FREE in the salon

hair treatment with any Shampoo, Blowdry & Straighten

for only $45.00Mention this ad to take advantage of this Special.

Expires 31/10/13, appointments necessary.

AW

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www.maitlandmercury.com.au THE MAITLAND MERCURY � Wednesday, September 25, 2013 13

Arts and CraftsWupa@Wanaruah

Restaurants and CafésCupz N’ Crepes

Internet Based BusinessInfosolve Pty Ltd

Hairdressing/BeauticiansInspirations Hair Design

RetailMortels Sheepskin Factory

Business ServicesBottrell Business

Consultants Pty LtdHealth

Targeted FitnessConstruction/Home

ImprovementsCronan’s Design and

DraftingGeneral BusinessFinook Industries

Finance/Real EstateAussie Maitland

TradesNewcastle Security Centre

Tourism &Accommodation

Banjo’s Bushland RetreatNot For Profit

Ungooroo AboriginalCorporationInnovation

Hummingbird ElectronicsPty Ltd

Home Based BusinessColour Monkey

New StartiGym 247 Kurri Kurri

EnvironmentalExcellence

MV Solar Pty Ltd NEIS

Oops! the ClownIndigenous

Mindaribba LocalAboriginal Land Council

Customer ServiceCupz N’ Crepes

Business Woman of theYear

Stephanie MortelYoung Entrepreneur of

the YearBryce Gibson

Business of the YearBanjo’s Bushland Retreat

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Hairdressing/BeauticiansBella Cheveux Hair Nails &

BeautyHealth

Kirkwoods’ Institute ofKarate

New StartBeyond Ballooning

Sacred Tree MarketsBusinessWoman of the

YearAnn Bartlett – Lifestyle

Cleaning Services

SPECIAL HIGHLYCOMMENDED

Not for ProfitROADwhyz (Hunter) NSW

Inc.

2013 HUNTERREGION BEC

AWARD WINNERS

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Ray O’Brien of Beyond Bank Australia withwinners Banjo’s Bushland Retreat staff member Lyn Giuffre and CessnockAdvertiser general manager Rebecca Gillon. 060913SS183

CONSTRUCTION, HOMEIMPROVEMENTS: Brett Cronanof Cronan’s Design. 060913SS102

MANUFACTURING,TRADES: Simon Leggatt ofNewcastle Security Centre.

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ARTS, CRAFTS AND GIFTWARE: Taasha Layer ofWupa Wanaruah. 060913SS063

FINANCE, REAL ESTATE:Darren and Kim Monroe of AussieMaitland. 060913SS113

RESTAURANTS AND CAFES:Gary and Racquel Peapell of Cupz N’Crepes.

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RETAIL, MOTELS: Tony andStephanie Mortel. 060913SS086

HAIRDRESSING, BEAUTICIANS: Inspirations’Caitlin Berry, Lauren Harper, Robert Threlfo, CassandraLawrence, Jason Ozga, Alexandra Turner and KiraFullerton. RIGHT: Owner Helen Stuckings. 060913SS080

HEALTH SERVICES: Michelleof Targeted Fitness, who also wonthe Highly Commended award forROADwhyz. 060913SS100

Do you work for your business?Or does your business work for you?

Want more free time?

Phone TODAY on 4936 2557 to get your business working for you

• Personalised business development • Business Skills workshops - personal and online• Customer contact solutions • Business development program

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Proudly supported by

AW12

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Visit our website at www.hunterregionbec.com.aufor further information

Finook MilkFor all your Milk, Dairy & Juice needs...

Suppliers of Dairy Farmers & Lion Products to:• Service Stations & Convenience Stores• Schools, Hospitals & Nursing Homes• Cafes & Restaurants • Offices • You!

Contact Ben at: Finook Industries • Ph. 02 4934 2863 • finook@bigpond.com12

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Hunter Region Business Excellence AwardsTHE WINNERS ARE

““Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation”For more than a decade Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation has sought to enpower the Indigenous community through programs and services that:Increase skills, generate respect, raise awareness of the employment needs of Aboriginal people, increase employmentopportunities, ensure social justice, and improve the health ofAboriginal people. Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation is theonly Indigenous not-for-profit shopfront organisation in Singleton. Through strong industry networks and partnershipswe aim to assist the Upper Hunter Aboriginal community toachieve their vision for the future.

In 2013, Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation entered into the 20th Annual Hunter RegionBusiness Excellence Awards, and won the ‘Not for Profit Business of the Year for 2013.

For further information, please go to: wwww.ungooroo.com.au

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WUPA@Wanaruah (WUPA at Wanaruah) is a businesswhich has

been created to assist Aboriginal artists to showcase their work on a

regional and national level. The art is exhibited across a number of

venues throughout the Hunter Valley from 21ST Sept to 31ST Oct

2013, thereby creating an art trail through the beautiful wine region

of the Pokolbin & Broke area. The exhibition provides an insight into the rich and vibrant

culture of over 20 local Aboriginal people by sharing their stories as depicted in their art.

In 2013, Wupa@Wanaruah entered into the 20th Annual Hunter Region Business

Excellence Awards, and won ‘Business of the Year’ for the Arts and Events category for 2013.

Please visit our website for more information: wwww.wupaatwanaruah.com.au1221061