THE peak business association for the Wheatbelt, the Wheatbelt Business Network announced winners of its Wheatbelt Business Excellence Awards at two award evenings in Kellerberrin and Moora recently.
AgriFresh was recognised as Business of the Year in Moora and is a family business that has been in the citrus industry for 11 years with 315ha of combined orchards in Badgingarra and Dandaragan.
Corporeal Health, based in Northam was the Business of the Year at the Kellerberrin awards, with its founder Carl Della also being recognised as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Moora was Joley Holliday of Walkabout Physiotherapy.
Judges for the Wheatbelt Business Excellence Awards included business and community leaders. Current Commissioner for the Shire of Narrogin Leigh Ballard, RSM Director Judy Snell, business consultant and RRR Network Chair Maree Gooch, Kellerberrin business owner Steve Cole, Roobix CEO Melissa Strutt and Katherine Jane of Lavendale Farm – a China Ready accredited accommodation business in York.
The Wheatbelt Business Network will encourage all category winners to enter the WA Regional Small Business Awards which are held in Perth later this year.
Not for profit businesses were also winners in the awards. The Toodyay Herald won the Micro Business category in Moora.
The Gravity Discovery Centre and Observatory in Gingin was recognised as the best Business Local achiever at the Moora awards night.
Stumpy's Roadhouse in Brookton and Cranmore Home in Moora took out the Wheatbelt Business Network Choice awards which recognised businesses that were successful in their own right and were working to grow themselves, their communities and the Wheatbelt.
Best business with 11 plus employees was won by Wheatbelt Steel at the Kellerberrin evening.
Other category winners included Kailam Transport in Corrigin, Kerrigan Valley Beef in Hyden, Treetops Guesthouse in Chittering and AutoPro Moora who took out best Franchise.