THERE were cheers all round as popular community members were rewarded during the annual Milton Ulladulla Rotary Club Community and Business Awards.
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Among the loudest cheers was for business of the year winner Ulladulla Printing Service, which had managed to survive and thrive in a time when the number of printers across Australia was falling rapidly due to changes in technology.
It had even expanded its customer base to the length and breadth of Australian stretching all the way from Far North Queensland to Busselton in Western Australia, although business partner Tom Wild laughed, “I don’t even know where Busselton is.”
He said one of his best business decisions had been to take on a young William Drury as an apprentice in 1989, before offering him a partnership in the business a couple of years ago.
However there had been many changes since then in response to changing communications technology, with the business installing the latest in digital printing technology a few years ago, and in the past 12 months investing in wide-format printing to enable it to provide products including signage, banners, canvas prints and pull-up signs.
Business partner William Drury explained the changes were in line with the company’s strategic plan.
“There are plenty of challenges facing the commercial printing industry, and we needed to ensure we had the technology to move forward,” he said.
“But we took our time, researching where the industry was heading and what technology was becoming available, so we could invest in the best technology.”
That has been matched by a continued investment in staff training, with many of the Ulladulla Printing Service staff completing two apprenticeships in the fields of printing, graphic arts and digital printing, and the company helping to design the Canberra TAFA course in digital printing.
William said that was not going to stop.
“The future is more staff training and more investment in technology to be able to expand the services we offer to people outside our area, as well as within the area,” he said.
Customers outside the Shoalhaven make up about a quarter of the Ulladulla Printing Supples business, with that figure growing rapidly.
As a result products from Ulladulla printing Services can be found everywhere from Far North Queensland to Busselton in Western Australia.
However the company’s focus remains squarely on the local region, sponsoring and supporting a wide range of events and festivals in the Ulladulla area, and being widely regarded as a good corporate citizen.
William explained the company supported many festivals because they brought people into the area who spent money at local businesses, which in turn supported Ulladulla Printing Service.
“We identified fairly early on that if you want to make a living out of an area you need to invest in that area,” he said.
On top of that Ulladulla Printing Service is the Shoalhaven’s only accredited green print supplier and is in its fourth year of accreditation.
Other popular wins during the Community and Business Awards included the contribution to business and/or tourism going to Matt Dell, who said the award really should go to his wife for having to raise their family despite him being out so often and involved with so many things.
The $2000 prize for community organisation of the year went to Meals on Wheels, Ulladullirious was named the best tourism event, and the prestigious Max Bayliss Award went to a surprised and tearful Relay for Life coordinator Caz Boland.
People's choice for Restaurant went to Sea Salt, while Tallwood was runner-up, while people's choice for casual eatery went to Brown Sugar ahead of the Boardwalk Cafe.
Tori Puglisi of Baylander Builders won the trophy for best tradesperson or builder.
IGA dominated the people's choice awards for the friendliest businesses and employees, with Milton IGA winning friendliest business and Bawley Point IGA the runner-up.
When it came the the friendliest employee the winner was Jake Bond of IGA Bawley Point ahead of Naomi Kendall of IGA Milton.
Best tourism business was Funland Ulladulla, best professional practice was Cameron's Optometry, best in trades went to J and T Dale Plumbing, beast in health and beauty was awarded to Beachcomber Hair Salon, Ulladulla Conveyancing won best Home Business, and Ulladulla Printing Service the best in retail.
Licensed club of the year was Milton Ulladulla Bowling Club, and the Rotary Customer Service Award went to Graeme Roberts.