Colac Otway Workforce
Employee of the Year

Jacinta Langdon from Barongarook Weed and Vermin Control is the Colac Otway Workforce Employee of the Year for 2009. Ms Langdon has been with the company since 1994 and said the award was a tribute to all of the staff at her work. “I work with a group of great people,” she said. “This award really isn’t about me as an individual but as the great work we all do as a team. “The staff give me a lot of support and opportunities to work with their business, so it really is a team effort.” Ms Langdon said she enjoyed her job because it dealt with both agriculture and environmental science. “I love working outside and also in different places such as Geelong, Melbourne and the coast,” she said. “Every day is always different.” Ms Langdon said she was proud to be nominated with the 11 other Employee of the Year nominees. “I really wouldn’t have minded not to win, it was really great to be nominated with all of them,” she said.

HAPPY WINNER: Paul McCallum from Colac Otway Workforce presents Colac Otway Employee of the Year Jacinta Langdon with her award.  091025NH012

Agribusiness Award
A father-son partnership has helped strengthen a Colac business. Bushy’s Fencing and Plumbing has won Colac Otway Shire’s Agribusiness Award. Partner in the business Greg Bishop said he started the business with his father Greg Senior and mother Joy seven years ago. “I was a qualified plumber and I decided to go out on my own,” Mr Bishop said.“Dad had purchased a fencing business and we combined them and went out on business together,” he said. Mr Bishop said he enjoyed working with his family. “I get along fine with my old man and wouldn’t do it with anyone else,” he said. Mr Bishop said the award recognised the hard work of the company’s partners and employees. He said he enjoyed the variety in his work. “Every day is something different, and I’m always working in different places.” Mr Bishop said he hoped to expand the business and increase the services it offered.

HARD WORKERS: Keith Zappelli, left, and Greg Bishop, right, of Bushy’s Fencing and Plumbing, with Agribusiness Award sponsor Chris Smith. 091024NH019

Community Enterprise Award
Westvic Staffing Solutions won the 2009 Community Enterprise Award. Office manager Greg Baker accepted the award on behalf of his staff. “I am absolutely ecstatic,” he said. “I am just rapt.” Mr Baker said he and his team were proud to be involved in the Colac community and help people find permanent employment. “I work with a great team and this recognises the great work which they do,” he said. “We look forward to shifting down to our new offices at WHK in Colac in the next couple of weeks,” he said. “The guys will be very proud when they hear about getting this award.” Des Powell from Barwon Water, which sponsored the award, said Westvic was a great business which encouraged the community. “It’s great to see people out there helping the community solve their issues,” he said.

WIN: Barwon Water’s Des Powell and Westvic Staffing Solutions’ Greg Baker. 091025NH024

Manufacturing Award
Dedication to improving Colac’s water services has won an award for a Colac businessman. Leslie Maintenance and Pipe Fitting won the Manufacturing Award at the 2009 Powercor Colac Otway Business Awards. Owner Trevor Leslie said he had been in the business for 20 years. “I used to do labour hire,” Mr Leslie said. “Then I saw an opportunity to open my own labour hire business,” he said. “I came to Colac 12 years ago and I stayed. “I came to do a job for AKD building kilns.” Mr Leslie said he was strict about producing quality work. “I do 90 per cent of our work for Barwon Water,” he said. “I enjoy getting out in the community and creating better things for the community.” He said the company helped build water assets for Colac and district, helping to create better living conditions for Colac residents.

SERVICE: Trevor Leslie, right, of Leslie Maintenance and Pipe Fitting with Mark Wright of Manufacturing Award sponsor Spence Construction. 091024NH027

New Business Award
Superior Food Safety directors Tim Foley and Chris Melville said they were aware of the risks of starting a new business 18 months ago. But after winning the New Business Award on Saturday night they know all the risks have paid off. “When we started we researched thoroughly and surrounded ourselves with good people so that even limited the risks to begin with,” Mr Melville said. “This is a great reward for everyone who has been involved, especially our staff so far.” Gerard Kelly from WHK, which sponsored the award, said the business was a success. “Starting a new business is a really gutsy thing to do,” he said. “But with their focussed approach, their business has become a success and they are emerging as tomorrow’s business leaders.” Mr Foley said the business was looking to expand from dairy foods into general foods in the near future. “Obviously being in the south-west, we are in the heart of the dairy industry but we are going to see what ideas we can come up with and what we can develop,” he said.

 
A RISK PAID OFF: Superior Food Safety’s Chris Melville and Tim Foley with WHK’s Gerard Kelly, centre. Mr Melville and Mr Foley started Superior Food Safety 18 months ago. 091025NH030

Micro Business Award
Frank and Katrina Fotinas have not looked back after a tree change to the Otways four years ago. Mr and Mrs Fotinas own Otways camping and cabin park Bimbi Park, which won the Micro Business Award on Saturday night. Mr Fotinas said the couple planned a tree change in 2005, selling their assets in Melbourne. He said he worked for 20 years at the South Melbourne Market but the family decided to try a different lifestyle. “We were going to travel around Australia for a year. “We called Bimbi Park to book in for a month and they said it was for sale.” Mr Fotinas said he convinced his wife to buy the business. He said the camping ground was a relaxed place. “It’s great to meet people, and people on holidays are always in a good mood.” Mr Fotinas said the park was a great place to raise his family, and his sons helped in the business. “I love it and my wife loves it,” he said. “Winning these awards makes us feel that we are heading in the right direction.”

TREE CHANGE: Frank Fotinas of Bimbi Park with Jemma Rosevear of CRF Colac Otway, which sponsored the Micro Business Award. 091024NH035

Professional Service Award
Champion Fitness Centre’s Danny Russell can call it back to back. The winner of the 2008 Professional Service Award won the 2009 Professional Service Award on Saturday night. “I’ve been in the industry for 10 years and at Champion for six and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” he said. “The best thing about my job is you get to see the results and see that you have done a good job in your clients.” Mr Russell said he was grateful to his wife Sarah and his parents for their support throughout the past six years. “It’s certainly had it ups and downs but business is going really well now. “Membership is up and we had a new promotion recently and we got 90 members in two weeks which is just fantastic.” Mr Russell said the future of Champion looked bright with possible renovations and refurbishments on the horizon. “If finances allow we will be looking to re-fit and maybe renovate,” he said. “Everything is going very well though and I am so grateful for the award.”

 
BETTER THAN A PUSH UP: ANZ’s Peter Shaw presents Champion Fitness Centre manager Danny Russell with his award for 2009. Mr Russell won the same award last year. 091025NH037

Trainee of the Year
Colac trainee beauty therapist Lauren Olsen won the Trainee of the Year award at the annual Powercor Colac Otway Business Awards. Ms Olsen works at Colac Vogue Health and Beauty. She thanked her boss Tessa Beckett during her acceptance speech. “She’s not only my boss, she’s my teacher and she guides me.” Ms Olsen said the award gave her encouragement in her work. “It makes me feel like I’ve actually achieved something,” she said. Ms Olsen said support from family and friends helped her have a strong work ethic. “Everyone around me supported me and inspired me to become the best I can be and always strive for the best,” she said.

 
DEVELOPMENT: Trainee of the Year Lauren Olsen with Graham Sutherland of the Rotary Club of Colac, which co-sponsored the award with the Rotary Club of Colac West. 091024NH010

Retail Business Award
A business award winner says it is vital for Colac people to support the city’s businesses. Mitre 10 Colac won the shire’s Retail Business Award on Saturday night. Manager Ernie Andres said the award win was “terrific” for the hardware store, which built new premises last year. Mr Andres said the hard work of employees and the support of customers helped secure the award. “The hard work the whole team has put in over the last 14 months since we opened the new store,” he said. Mr Andres said the new store had been “very successful” and had brought a wider variety of choice for customers. “It’s kept a lot more money in the town from going to Bunnings in Geelong,” he said. “If they spend it here they will spend at other businesses in Colac too.” Mr Andres said it was important for Colac people to support the city’s businesses. “The more support we have here for Colac businesses, the more money stays in town and employment is  created,” he said. The business started in 1954 and became a Mitre 10 branch in 1967. “We have customers tell us that they’ve been customers for 50 and 60 years,” Mr Andres said. He said Mitre 10 also sponsored about 70 Colac and district organisations.

 
GROWTH: Ernie Andres of Mitre 10 Colac, right, with Peter Deppeler of award sponsor 3CS MixxFM. 091024NH043

Special Event Award
The Colac Custom Car and Bike Show received a Special Event Award at Colac and district’s annual business awards. Simon Cuolahan and Andrew Serle, who created the event 10 years ago, said they were honoured to receive the award. “We have always been backed by the community and very well sponsored,” Mr Cuolahan said. “People come from everywhere as they follow a car show circuit and we feel so lucky that they include our car show on their list.” Mr Cuolahan and Mr Serle said they had received sponsorship from the Colac community since day one. “The sponsorship and the way people patronise the event is what has kept it going for so long,” Mr Serle said. The car show previously won the award in 2007. “We weren’t nominated last year and the fact that we have won this year again is just fantastic,” Mr Cuolahan said. The car show takes place each year in January.

 
CELEBRATE: Simon Cuolahan and Andrew Serle, right, receive the 2009 Special Event Award from Skills Connection’s Bob Dalton, centre. 091025NH047

Trade Services Award
A Beeac family business is still strong after three decades. Richardson’s Liquid Waste and Water Cartage won the Trade Services Award. Scott Richardson said he and his wife Lucy bought the business from his parents Eric and Evelyn three years ago. “The business has been in the family for 32 years,” Mr Richardson said. “It’s great to continue it on,” he said. “Mum and Dad are still a big part of our operation.” Mr Richardson said he had previously been in water cartage for 15 years. He said liquid waste and water cartage were essential services for rural residents, and customer service was a major focus for him. Mr Richardson said he would not be surprised if his children Sophie and Lachlan also went into the business. “They love the trucks,” he said.

 
FAMILY BUSINESS: Lucy Richardson, left, and Scott Richardson of Richardson’s Liquid Waste and Water Cartage, right, with Andrew Russell of Trade Services Award sponsor BDH Constructions. 091024NH052

Tourism Hospitality Services Award
Barongarook winery and brewery Otway Estate won the 2009 Tourism Hospitality Services Award.  Owner Janine Rose said it was an honour for her team to receive the award. “It really is a team effort,” she said. “This is our fourth Colac Otway business award and we are grateful for all the support we receive throughout the year.” Ms Rose said Colac and district community groups, businesses and people always supported Otway Estate. “We love the support we get and are very grateful for it,” she said. “On days like our bridal expo when everyone gets involved-businesses, the public and community groups, it really is fantastic.”

 
CHEERS: Stefan Traube from Novaclear presents the 2009 Tourism Hospitality Services Award to Janine Rose from Otway Estate. 091025NH055

Young Business Achiever
Grant Oates’ win in the Young Business Achiever category topped off a hectic and tiring day. Mr Oates woke at 4.30am on Saturday to race in the Melbourne to Warrnambool race. He said he finished about 40th overall and about 10th in the B Grade section of the race, before heading back to Colac for the business awards. Mr Oates started working at The Bike Shop Colac as a trainee, and previously won the Trainee of the Year award. He bought the shop in 2002 when he was 18 years old. “It’s good being your own boss at times,” Mr Oates said. “It’s always a challenge,” he said. Mr Oates said he had always enjoyed being around bikes.

 
GOING PLACES: Young Business Achiever Grant Oates, right, with Otway Business Inc president Anthony McDonald. 091024NH058

Special Judges Award
Former air-traffic controllers Ron and Carola Anstis won a Special Judges’ Award for their work with Carlisle River Wildlife Shelter. “We are both surprised and humbled to have won this award,” Mr Anstis said. “We would really like to thank the community of Colac who assist us when they find an injured animal, it really means a lot to us.” Both Mr and Mrs Anstis are former air-traffic controllers from Sydney who moved to the Otways in 1999. “We had both had a long-life love of animals and so we have set up the 54 hectares at Gellibrand,” Mr Anstis said. “We really appreciated the community ringing us up and telling us when there is an injured animal lying by the road, because we cannot drive around looking all the time.” Mrs Anstis extended her appreciation to both veterinary services in Colac. “They are always willing to help us and take in animals we find at all sorts of weird and wonderful hours,” she said.

SPECIAL: Anthony McDonald, centre, presents Carlisle River Wildlife Shelter’s Ron and Carola Anstis with a Special Judges’ Award.  091025NH060

Rosemary Müller Memorial Award
Retired police Sergeant Don Scott has won a new community service award. Mr Scott, who retired from the police force earlier this year, won the Rosemary Müller Memorial Award, named after the former co-ordinator of the Powercor Colac Otway Business Awards. The award was in recognition of his community work and involvement with police charity, the Blue Ribbon Foundation. “Over the past seven years that the Colac branch has been operating we have raised over $170,000 for the Colac area which is earmarked for the Colac Hospital through the sale of Constable T Bears and the Colac Rodeo,” his statement said. “Money raised supplies medical equipment in the name of a murdered member, as was the case of the Stephen Henry Resuscitation Room at the Colac Hospital and grief counselling room. “The Colac branch of the Blue Ribbon foundation totally fitted out these rooms at the emergency ward at a cost of approximately $60,000.”

 
STAND IN: Leading Senior Constable Terry Woodcroft accepts an award on behalf of retired Colac Sergeant Don Scott. He is pictured with Debbie Carter of award sponsor Yellow Pages.
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