We will be updating this information as winners are announced. For the most recent updates on the 2018 Rotary Club of Milton Ulladulla Community and Business Award winners, refresh this live blog.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 2018 awards are being held at the Dunn Lewis Centre. Awards will be given for Community Organisation of the Year, Best in Tourism and Hospitality Services, Best in Professional Practice, Best in Trades and Services, Best in Personal Services, Best in Health and Wellbeing Services, Best in Retail, Apprentice of the Year, Businesses of the Year, Friendliest Employee, Friendliest Business, Best Casual Eatery, and Best Restaurant.
The 2018 Business of the Year – The top award has gone to Old School House Milton.
“I’ve really noticed tonight that everyone involved is incredibly passionate about their business. That is something that seems to permeate through the entire district,” owner Jenny Paul said.
“This is an amazing award, I can’t believe I’ve won it.”
Hall of Frame – This year three local businesses were inducted into the Ulladulla Community and Business Awards Hall of Fame.
Cupitts Kitchen, J&T Dale Plumbing and Ulladulla Printing Services have been given this honour.
“As you know the business awards have been run by Rotary for more than 10 years,” Rotary president Craig Saunders said.
“We’ve has a few businesses win their categories for numerous years.
“We’ve decided to give them this perpetual trophy.”
The Highly Commended Judges Award – This year, the award goes to Ulladulla Mowers.
“As always the judging process is difficult,” judging coordinator Wayne Fry said.
“We have had some great winners this evening, but the judges also thought it was fitting to award a highly commended award to someone who didn’t win their category, but was a finalist.”
Best in Retail Services – That Phone Place has taken home their second award for the night.
Best in Health and Wellbeing – EMpower Wellbeing.
Owner Emily Bingham accepted the award, saying she was “really excited” about the award.
“Having grown up here, and coming home to start my little business six years ago has been such a joy and such a pleasure,” Ms Bingham said.
“We have gone through a lot of phases in the business in the past few months. We re-branded last year. 12 months ago we opened a Wholefoods Store and have been expanding the business in other areas.
“There are now six of us inthe team, and without them I wouldn’t be standing here.
“I am really proud of what we provide in the health and fitness industry.”
Best Tourism and Hospitality Business – The Old School House Milton has taken home this award for 2018.
“I would also like to say thank you to all the people who have supported and encouraged me. It is a wonderful community to be in, I find everyone loves to work together,” Old School House Milton owner said.
Best in Trades and Services – The 2018 winner of the best in trades and services award is J&C Welding and Fabrications.
“I just want to say thanks for all of the support,” the winner said.
Best in Professional Practice – The 2018 professional practice of the year is Gentle Dental.
People’s Choice Restaurant – Tony’s Italian Ristorante Bar and Seafood.
Owner Carlo Capogreco thanked Rotary, the Milton Ulladulla Times, his staff, and the community for the award.
“It is pretty tough in business, because you don’t get much time to spend with family. I now have one for each for my two children,” he said.
People’s Choice Casual Eatery – The Bay Leaf Indian Restaurant.
The award was accepted by Greg, a friend of the owner.
Friendliest Employee of the Year – Sharna Grahame from Boardwalk Cafe.
“Thank you for everyone who voted for me, all the customers, and to my Boardwalk family who make the place a happy place to be,” Ms Grahame said.
Friendliest Business of the Year – The winner is That Phone Place.
“This award, I view as quite an achievement for any business. Our main goal in business is to have a happy customer,” owner Craig said.
The Max Bayliss Award – “Max worked for the community. He worked tirelessly and he was a bloody good bloke who died far too young. The Rotary Club decided to give the award in his honour,” Rotary president Craig Saunders said.
“We give it to someone who has done a lot for the community.”
The winner is Jim Mison, who has been committed to the Milton Show Society and Milton Bulldogs Football Club, among other things. Unfortunately, he was in Queensland for his daughter’s wedding.
Community Organisation of the Year – The winner of the Community Organisation of the Year is The Ulladulla District Community Foundation and Jindelara Services.
They received a $1000 donation.
Brian Thompson accepted the award, saying “wow, thank you to the Rotary Club and The Times”.
“The donation will be well spent, I can assure you,” he said.
Mr Thompson said what the foundation had achieved with Jindelara Cottage was “unique”.
He said the Lions book shop, which was opened to benefit the foundation, had raised more than $400,000.
Apprentice of the Year – The winner of Apprentice of the Year for 2018 is Kane Samways from J&T Dale Plumbing.
“Thank you everyone for their support,” he said upon accepting his award.
Contribution to tourism and business – The winner for contribution to tourism and business is Karen Bashford from South Coast Finance and Business Solutions. Mrs Bashford was recently awarded for excellence in finance and NSW broker of the year in insurance. She has sponsored many local events, including numerous junior golf tournaments. Congratulations!
The award was accepted by her husband Peter Bashford.
“For Karen to do this is pretty humbling. She doesn’t do it for accolades,” he said.
Previous winners of the Rotary Club of Milton Ulladulla Community and Business Awards have praised the awards for the recognition they’ve received.
J & T Dale Plumbing owner Tom Dale said being co-winners of the business of the year with Cupitt’s Kitchen galvanized their staff.
“The whole team on the night were all ecstatic,” he said.
Progressing from previous winners of best in trades to sharing the coveted overall honour highlighted how their effort on customer service had been well-received.
“We definitely feel we’ve got a good rapport with the wider-community,” Mr Dale said.
Tony’s Italian Ristorante Bar & Seafood owner Carlo Capogreco said he was shocked when he won the people’s choice restaurant because he had only opened the restaurant less than 12 months before he received the honour.
It was the first time Mr Capogreco had a business nominated.
“It was fantastic to win, it was a shock and a honour all at once,” Mr Capogreco said.
“We did it all within 12 months of opening the business, I didn’t expect a victory at all.”
Mr Dale encouraged businesses to enter the awards because it was a way to support the local community on the night and “a great way to get your business name” into the wider-community.
Organisers of the business have also reminded residents to get their votes and submissions in on time before entries close on August 17.
This year’s voting format for community-voted winners has changed, with no nominations needed, just voting forms to be completed. The businesses with the most votes will win their categories.
The most votes will decide the popularly selected awards which include Friendliest Business, Friendliest Employee, People’s Choice Casual Eatery and People’s Choice Restaurant.
For businesses wishing to enter the judged categories, owners or staff will need to complete an application form, which can be downloaded online at www.rotaryclubofmiltonulladulla.org.au or collected from the Milton Ulladulla Times office on Wason Street, Ulladulla.
Entries can be lodged online through the Rotary Club’s website, dropped off at the Times or posted to Rotary PO Box 151 Ulladulla.
Categories include; Community organisation of the year, best tourism hospitality or business, best in professional practice, best in trades and services, best in personal services, health and wellbeing and best in retail services.