The team from NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park were runner up in the People’s Choice award for Accommodation and Tourism Attraction. Photo Kim Keltie.
Cr David Rooks, with We are Phillip Island’s Judi Pay, who won the People’s Choice award for Online, Mobile and Home-based Business. Photo Kim Keltie.
Cr Clare Le Serve (right) with Lynn and Des Gow from San Remo Butchers, runner up in the People’s Choice award for Retail and Services. Photo Kim Keltie.
The team from Anchor Belle Caravan Park celebrate their win in the People’s Choice Award for Accommodation and Tourism Attraction. Photo Kim Keltie.
Jo Viney and her team from Brinnie T Designs won the Access, Equity and Inclusion award. Photo Kim Keltie.
Wildlife Coast Cruises won the award for Environmental Sustainability. Photo Kim Keltie.
Bass Strait Direct was runner up in the Environmental Sustainability award. Photo Kim Keltie.
San Remo’s TerraLab continued its award-winning run, picking up the Business Innovation award. Photo Kim Keltie.
The winners were grinners at the Bass Coast Business Awards on Friday night. Photo Kim Keltie.
The winners of the 2023 Bass Coast Business Awards. Photo Kim Keltie.
Triple winners! Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage took out the coveted Business of the Year gong, as well as winning the Marketing and Communications award and the People’s Choice award for Retail and Services. Photo Kim Keltie.
Local business achievements were celebrated at the 2023 Bass Coast Shire Council Business Awards, announced on Friday night.
Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage from Glen Forbes took out the coveted Business of the Year award, with the judges praising the quality of the submission, noting that “research, planning, and education is key to delivering a new product”.
Thirteen Phillip Island and San Remo businesses were on the winners and runners up list.
Congratulations to Brinnie T Design, TerraLab, Wildlife Coast Cruises, Bass Strait Direct, San Remo Hotel, Anchor Belle Holiday Park, NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park, her. Skin and Day Spa, Balance Health Phillip Island, We are Phillip Island, Patricia Jamieson Celebrant, San Remo Butchers and Bass Coast Plastering.
Alongside businesses from across the shire, these 13 businesses were recognised for their excellence at a gala dinner held at the Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club.
This year's awards ceremony showcased a profound commitment to everything local.
“From the delicious food and beverages to trophies, vibrant flowers – the event incorporated and celebrated the outstanding talents of our region,” a council spokesperson said.
One of the highlights of the evening was the overwhelming response to the People's Choice Awards categories.
“This year, we received a staggering 2300 votes, nearly doubling last year's count. The community's increasing involvement in celebrating local businesses in our region is heartening, and we extend our gratitude to all those who participated.”
Phillip Island and San Remo dominated the People’s Choice Awards, taking out first or second place in six of the seven categories.
The council thanked all 54 applications submitted from businesses across diverse sectors, including construction, hair and beauty, health, hospitality, manufacturing, the visitor economy, retail, and professional services.
“Among these, 35 businesses applied for the awards, and we were thrilled to welcome 25 first-time applicants who took their place on the stage of recognition.”
The judging panel for this year's awards was comprised of six industry professionals who generously volunteered their time to support the Business Awards. The panel included: Kim Story, Destination Phillip Island; Andrea Evans-McCall, Countries University Centre; Rebecca Massaro, Interchange Gippsland; Heidi Hamm, Sustainability Victoria; Melissa Cashman, Phillip Island Nature Parks; Jennifer Carroll, GoTo Solutions.
The council expressed its sincere appreciation of the sponsors, “whose unwavering support made this event possible”.
Council said the awards celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of local businesses.
“The Council is proud to support and promote these exceptional enterprises, and we look forward to seeing them continue to thrive and contribute to the vibrancy of our community,” the council spokesperson concluded.
Judged Category Awards
Business of the Year sponsored by Harman Wines
- Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage
Access, Equity and Inclusion sponsored by Interchange Gippsland
- Brinnie T Design - Winner
- YES Youth Hub – Runner Up
Business Innovation sponsored by Corio Generation
- TerraLab – Winner
- Wonthaggi Allied Health Centre – Runner Up
Environmental Sustainability sponsored by Westernport Water
- Wildlife Coast Cruises - Winner
- Bass Strait Direct – Runner Up
Event Excellence sponsored by rEVENTS Academy
- NYE on the Hill – Winner
- Bass Coast Cycle Challenge – Runner Up
Marketing and Communications sponsored by Destination Phillip Island
- Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage - Winner
- San Remo Hotel – Runner Up
Resilience sponsored by Small Business Mentoring Service
- Wonthaggi Allied Health Centre - Winner
- San Remo Hotel – Runner Up
People’s Choice Awards
Sponsored by Bass Coast Shire Council.
Accommodation and Tourism Attraction
- Anchor Belle Holiday Park – Winner
- NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park – Runner Up
Food and Beverage
- Harman Wines – Winner
- Merindah Hill Farm – Runner Up
Hair and Beauty
- her. Skin & Day Spa – Winner
- Hair by Sarah Azzato – Runner Up
Health and Lifestyle
- Wonthaggi Allied Health Centre - Winner
- Balance Health Phillip Island – Runner Up
Online, Mobile and Home-based Business
- We Are Phillip Island - Winner
- Patricia Jamieson Celebrant – Runner Up
Retail and Services
- Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage – Winner
- San Remo Butchers – Runner Up
Trade
- Rotaret Hydraulic Engineering - Winner
- Bass Coast Plastering – Runner Up
The Awards night was sponsored by Food and Fibre Gippsland, with nbn Local providing photography.
