Turners Vineyard in Orange was the venue of choice for the 2016 Central West Orana Business Awards gala dinner on Friday. The glamourous evening, hosted by the NSW Business Chamber, saw business people from across the Central West attend in the hope of being announced winner of their category.
Jamie Malcolm, master of ceremonies, opened the event and introduced ‘partner in crime’, Ella Brown who warmly welcomed everyone to the Orana Business Awards. “We have a variety of businesses across the region here tonight. I’d like to congratulate the 2015 winners who competed in Sydney” Ella said, who then invited the previous year’s winners on stage to receive their alumni badges.
Parkes local Ryan Cunningham won the Young Entrepreneur category, fending off stiff competition from Dubbo and Bathurst. “Wow! I’m very honoured is probably the best way to describe it” he said; “I’d like to acknowledge my partner Kyle who knows how hard it is to live and work with your partner. Thank you, this is much appreciated.” Other Parkes businesses who were nominated included GWS Personnel, Parkes Betta Electrical, Rebecca Miller of La Bella and Parkes Chamber of Commerce. “To have one of Parkes’ nominees go onto the State final in the first year of entering is great” said Geoff Rice, President of the Parkes Business Chamber, which was nominated for the Local Chamber of Commerce Award.
The big scoop of the night came from Dubbo business, Transforce, who was named the 2016 Central West Orana Business of the Year. Transforce, who specialise in road transport services, also won the award for Excellence in Business. Ryan will now go onto the Sydney to represent the Central West at the NSW Business Chamber State Business Awards. We wish him the best of luck and to the other Parkes nominees, you’re all winners in our eyes.