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2024 Oberon Business Awards
September 12, 2024
Oberon's "Night of Nights" happened on Friday, September 6, when the town assembled at the Oberon RSL for the 2024 Oberon Business Awards, presented by the Oberon Business and Tourist Association (OBTA). The Awards were last presented in 2018.
It was a full house at the Oberon RSL.
There were winners announced on the night, but really, all the finalists were winners.
Congratulations to all the finalists.
And the winners, announced by Member for Bathurst Paul Toole MP, were (drum roll please) ...
Paul Toole MP was enthusiastic about the
winners.
- Employer of choice - Mawhoods IGA + Liquor
- Excellence in small business - The Hub Gourmet Pizza
- Outstanding community organisation - Oberon Rodeo Association
- Excellence in micro business - Plateau Garden Landscapes
- Outstanding visitor experience - Essington Park Shearers' Quarters and Woolshed
- Outstanding new business - Reno Spares
- Excellence in large business - Oberon Earthmoving
-
People's Choice Awards
- Service with a smile - Ashleigh Hotham
- Hospitality venue - The Milbrey
- Favourite tradie - Zane Wilkinson
Congratulations to all the winners. Nobody was heard to complain about any of the names called out.
To end the night, there was a special announcement - the OBTA Contribution to Business Award, presented by OBTA President Chris Milne, and here is what he had to say:
Good Evening all,
On behalf of the OBTA Committee, I offer our congratulations to all of the finalists and of course winners in The Oberon Business Awards for 2024.
Thank you also to everyone who has come along tonight to support their respective businesses and the business Community of Oberon, and thanks to Paul Toole for presenting the awards.
The OBTA Committee is pleased to announce the final award for the night, the inaugural OBTA Contribution to Business Award, which is awarded to Mary David. Thanks to Pam Dellow for this brief biography.
Mary David grew up at Mt David.
She has been a face of real estate in Oberon since the 1970's when she worked at Parra matt a Livestock for David Artlett. Mary started her own real estate business, Raine and Horne, next to Peter's Cafe. She has worked for Ray White, then Ray White/Emms Mooney, and now Elders.
Mary gets her award and flowers from
Chris Milne.
When her children were at primary school, she was very active in the St Joseph's P&F, taking on the role of secretary for many years.
She was one of three people who ran junior soccer and junior cricket for many years in Oberon, giving many primary aged students the chance to have local sport of a weekend, as well as being present during weekday training sessions.
Mary has been an active member of the Business and Tourist Association, attending virtually all meetings and functions. She took on this job willingly as an employee, especially times when Pat Bird was unable to be attend.
Mary has been part of many social groups, playing ladies tennis on a Tuesday morning, being part of the Tuesday night stitching group for many years and over the past three years, she has taken up golf.
She became involved in the Arts Council and has been the vice president.
Mary has been a dedicated and loving grandmother to her seven grandchildren.
Mary has consistently over the last 20 years been one of the Top Ten Residential Sales people for Regional NSW.
Mary is a true professional and applied her skills to help grow the community of Oberon, including selling me two properties and assisting in a number of other deals.
I would like to invite Mary to the stage to accept this Award. Finally I would also like to thank Tatiania, Dianna and Sarah for all of the hard work in organising this evening and Wayne Barker for his MC duties.
The enthusiasm for the event could be seen in the way people stayed around after the presentations. Oberon Matters had to leave relatively early (early start the next day) but the large remaining crowd looked like they would be there until someone turned the lights off. Everyone is hoping that the Awards can become an annual event to celebrate Oberon's commercial life.
Special mentions
Some people require special acknowledgements for their contributions on the night.
The first is Anna Shaw from Kringle Cottage who decorated the tables. Just walking into the room before the crowd arrived was enough to know that the night was special.
Second is Charley Bertwistle, who stayed on her feet for almost all the night to provide a very nice musical background. It was a tough gig to work with only a mildly amplified acoustic guitar in a room full of people socialising and eating, but she carried it off.
Next is Prue Kavalieros, who made the wonderful looking (and tasting) cakes.
And finally, the staff of the Oberon RSL who prepared and delivered the delicious meals to all the tables. There were a lot of mouths to feed and they all got fed at the right time.
Congratulations to the people who made the night happen.
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