SATURDAY night's Master Builders Association awards night at the Ulladulla Civic Centre has been hailed a great success.
The function was attended by more than 250 people from across the south-east region including Wollongong in the north, Eden to the south, the Southern Highlands and Snowy Mountains.
This was the first time the MBA has ever held awards in the south-east region and regional manager Lyn Smith, who is based in Ulladulla, is confident they will become an annual event.
She said all the sponsors were keen to be involved again next year while many of the region's builders who hadn't projects this year had indicated they would do so next year.
Mrs Smith said the night itself was "absolutely fantastic".
She said Let's Dectorate had done a remarkable job decking out the Civic Centre with some guests comparing it to the National Convention Centre.
She said Hackett's Catering had provided a wonderful meal and also thanked local resident Florey Helmore for putting together the audio visual display for the night.
The awards night was dominated by Eric Organ from Quality Choice Building Services who took a number of awards for his work in the Bega area including best renovations/additions (up to $50,000), best renovations/additions ($50,001-$200,000) and best use of timber.
He also received a merit award for in the best renovations/additions ($50,001-$200,000) category a certificate of excellence in the Tradesman of the Year category (carpentry).
One of the highlights of the night saw Mr Organ crowned the south-east region's builder of the year.
Local builders didn't go empty-handed.
John Gillies from John Gillies Builders was named winner of the domestic building catefory ($250,001-$300,000) for a home at Dolphin Point while John Johnston from JN and VA Johnston received a merit award in the domestic building (over $1 million) category for a home in Mitchell Parade, Mollymook.
Neil Riles Constructions Pty Ltd, based in Berry, took out the same domestic building (over $1 million) category for another home in Mitchell Parade.
A home at Bawley Point earned a merit award for Joshua Wooden from J and K Wooden Pty Ltd in the domestic building ($500,001-$750,000) category.
Southern Highlands builder Andrew Corby of AJ Corby Constructions Pty Ltd was named new builder of the year.
Mrs Smith said the awards night simply wouldn't have been possible without the support of major sponsors C-Bus Super, Weathertex, Hampton Hire and Storage and MBA Insurance Services, special category sponsors South Coast Business and Financial Solutions, Cukuna Sales and Stegbar Windows and foundation sponsors Milton Ulladulla Times, April Building Solutions, Alan May Holden, Camerons Timber and Hardware (Batemans Bay) and Illawong Maintenance.
Mrs Smith said that while there had been suggestions that the awards night be held at a different venue next year, it would more than likely remain in Ulladulla for logistical reasons.