The 2024 Gala Business Awards mark a significant event for the Gunnedah business community, being the first business awards held in five years.
Since 2019, our local community has faced natural disasters and the global pandemic; our businesses have certainly faced significant challenges during this time. This year, the dedicated Gunnedah and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Gunnedah Chamber) committee have made a significant effort to continue to build a Gala Event into their yearly calendar. The unwavering support of our Major Event Partner, Whitehaven Coal, has been significant to the Chamber’s Gala committee, as it has allowed the focus of celebrating business and created the opportunity to gather as a community.
These awards are proudly linked with BusinessNSW, which features 19 categories across the regional and state award level. The committee selected six categories that were believed to best represent Gunnedah’s unique business landscape:
• Excellence in Micro Business, proudly sponsored by Namoi Valley Bricks
• Excellence in Small Business, proudly sponsored by Slack-Smith Financial
• Excellence in Large Business, proudly sponsored by Wholegrain Milling
• Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion, proudly sponsored by Allied Partnerships Australia
• Outstanding New Business, proudly sponsored by Kelaher Industrial Services
• Outstanding Young Business Leader, proudly sponsored by Hennessy Real Estate
Coordinated by chamber’s marketing, events, and engagement manager, Keira Gifford, we opened our nomination link to the community on Wednesday, June 12. By closing time just three weeks later, the chamber had received 196 submissions, highlighting over 100 local businesses across the six award categories. These community-driven nominations provided an opportunity to spotlight, celebrate, and support the local businesses that are making a significant impact not only in our town, but across our region and beyond.
From the 100 nominated businesses, 59 advanced to the next stage by submitting their award entries via the award portal. These submissions are now being reviewed by three independent judges, following the BusinessNSW rulings, regulations and standards. One judge remarked, “the entrants are of an extremely high standard and is an absolute credit to your business community and the region”. They went on to say; “the Gunnedah chamber has done an outstanding job navigating and organising this program – I really wish you the very best with your upcoming gala event and wish all the entrants the very best of luck.”
This sentiment reflects the pride of the chamber, as it too believes in the remarkable contributions which the local businesses across the commerce and industry community deliver daily to this region and beyond.
The chamber is set to notify applicants of their finalist status this week. As the judging came to a close on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. The finalist lists will be shared on Gunnedah chamber’s Facebook and Instagram page in the coming days, with a full list published in the Gunnedah Times edition on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
The Business Gala Awards evening will take place on Saturday, August 10, at Gunnedah Town Hall. The event will start at 5.30pm with canapés and networking accompanied by an acoustic performance from Gunnedah Conservatorium artists in the Smithurst Courtyard. The main event will feature a live performance by the Baker Boys Band, proudly sponsored by Mannion Drilling, with catering by The Verdict and Reverence Sourdough, and bar service by The Courthouse Hotel. Formalities will be led by Gunnedah Chamber’s president Ben Hennessy and vice president CJ Baldry. Footage of the night will be available on Gunnedah chamber’s social media accounts, as well as photos with thanks to our Gold Partner, Taylah Maree.
Vice president and gala committee chair, CJ Baldry, expressed her enthusiasm by stating, “the positive response from the community for the business awards has been overwhelming. I am looking forward to helping present and host a night full of celebrations for our local, innovative, and robust business community.”
CJ went on to say, “the night however would not be possible without the support and dedication of our committee, who have given their time outside of their own businesses voluntarily to see this event be achieved. The support of our sponsors is extremely important also, whether their contributions are in-kind or otherwise, every bit of support helps to bring a community together to celebrate such a special night.”
Ticket sales for the event will be launched on Thursday, July 25, 2024. The first round of tickets will be offered to the award finalists and Gunnedah chamber members, following on with general ticket sales.
Information on purchasing tickets can be found on the chamber’s social media platforms and website (www.gunnedah.org.au).
Winners from our local categories will advance automatically as finalists in the Regional Business Awards. This year, BusinessNSW New England Northwest will host their regional awards in Gunnedah, for the first time in many years, on Friday, September 20, 2024.
The chamber is looking forward to showcasing and supporting the best of Gunnedah and district’s business at the regional level in September, with the hope of seeing our finalists move to the state awards, which are held on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 in Sydney.
The chamber encourages those businesses in our region who may not have made the dates for our local awards, to participate and offer their submission to the regional awards program. The submissions for these awards close tomorrow, Friday, July 26.
The chamber offers support through their website on the submission process, including a list of frequently asked questions and other resources. The chamber encourages anyone to reach out via the contact details available for any awards support.
The chamber encourages the community to reach out to those businesses who have received nominations and help celebrate this great achievement.
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