The Daroo Business Awards will be awarded this this Friday, November 3^rd at their annual gala awards night celebrating the best businesses across the Cabonne Shire. 

The night is expected to be one of the biggest seen at the Daroos’ with a record 175 finalists competing for their titles. A record 654 nominations across the 17 categories were received with over 230 individual businesses nominated, with many businesses receiving multiple nominations. 

The night which will be held at the Yeoval Memorial Hall, will see the winners in 14 categories decided by popular vote. The three major awards, Best Business in Cabonne, Employee of the Year and Apprentice/Trainee of the Year, will be decided by a panel of independent judges after critiquing submissions from each of the nominees.

Daroo Business Awards

Categories

The Daroos’ were the first local business awards to recognise farming as a business category and this year introduced the new category for Businesses Fostering Disability Inclusion to recognise businesses that implement strategies and push for disabled employment and inclusion.

The Daroo Business Awards were named after the aboriginal word for platypus which is found in the waterways throughout Cabonne Shire, and have been running annually since 2000. 

Their primary objective is to recognise excellence in businesses across the Cabonne region and to raise the profile of those businesses and organisations who demonstrate a commitment in their area of service and business management.

The Cabonne Shire is comprised of two small towns Molong & Canowindra, and seven villages Cargo, Cudal, Cumnock, Eugowra, Manildra, Mullion Creek and Yeoval. The awards travel to a different community each year and are used by a community group as a fundraiser for their town with projects including improving swimming club and local pool facilities, upgrading amenities at the local showground and fitting out a mobile health van.

Central West Business HQ Executive Officer and Daroo Awards Chairman Bruce Buchanan explained there were many benefits to the awards working on a rotating system saying “It gives all the towns and villages a chance to not only showcase their local area but it also provides a chance for community groups to raise funds and for businesses to get an economic boost”.

Mr Buchanan said the awards were so successful because they were a stage for recognition for regional businesses known to be very resilient and resourceful. “Everyone knows how tough it can be in a small community and everyone is genuinely happy for the winners even if they miss out themselves because it is about being able to celebrate together”.