IT was the night of nights for Orange’s business community when homage was paid to the city’s businesses large and small at the 2015 CGU Banjo Business Awards on Friday night.
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Welcoming the crowd of 400, Orange Business Chamber president Tony Healey congratulated the businesses represented on the night and encouraged them to join the chamber and become involved in the city’s business network.
“You have all worked very hard in the last year and these awards tonight are an important way to network your business,” he said.
PYBAR Mining Services took out the major prize, the 2014 Banjo business of the year.
Andrew, Paul and Brendan Rouse represented the company and collected the award.
“This really is a great surprise,” PYBAR chief executive officer Paul Rouse said.
“I would like to thank everyone here for supporting the awards - this award goes to all our employees.”
Mr Healey said 16,000 votes were recorded in this year’s awards, which is indicative of the interest in the general and business community in relation to the awards.
CGU Banjo Business Awards chairman Mark Monaghan talked of the significance of the awards and took the opportunity to thank CGU, which has been the major sponsor of the awards over 25 years, and former CGU regional manager Allan Train, who has been a passionate advocate for the awards.
“It truly has been a remarkable relationship,” Mr Monaghan said.
He also congratulated all the businesses who were nominated in this year’s awards.
“Operating your own business can at times be a selfless task and for every business nominated, this was a pat on the back to say you are doing a good job,” he said.
Mr Monaghan also paid tribute to dedicated employees who he said were truly valued by their employers.
This year’s awards was made up of 25 individual categories incorporating judges and people’s choice awards.
Mr Monaghan said it was encouraging to see diversity in the category winners from established businesses to new businesses.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au