Every little town needs a favourite little local and the Business Eastern Shore Business Excellence and Service Awards unearthed a few this year.
The annual awards event run by Business Eastern Shore and sponsored by City of Clarence celebrate the enthusiasm, commitment, vitality and vibrancy of local business, and showcase the breadth of business talent in Clarence.
Thousands of businesses call Clarence home and in the past year more than 100 new business have opened to highlight strength in the local economy.
One such newcomer is the Richmond Reading Room, a tiny café with a heart for locals, who won the BESA Excellence Eastern Shore Sun $750 Marketing Award.
Owner Dana Stevens, who moved to Richmond with wife Stephanie four years ago, said opening their dream business in Clarence had been a breeze.
“It was much easier than I thought. I hadn’t opened a business before but as soon as I reached out to council the people in city planning were super helpful,” she said.
“It only took a few months to get everything underway and I had a heap of support from them.”
Mrs Stevens said housing growth in Richmond had brought new local customers who were helping to build the business alongside a heavy tourist trade.
“We are really thankful to our loyal regulars who have nominated us for this award who are really passionate about us succeeding,” she said.
“I grew up in Clarence and it is such a nice community. People really rally around that Eastern Shore vibe. It is awesome working in Clarence.”
Several other cafés and eateries in Clarence were recognised in the BESA winner’s list.
They were awarded for exceptional service, setting a high standard for quality and innovation, and contributed significantly to their communities.
Treats on Franklin, in Lindisfarne, is setting the standard, with Arie and Frejan Hanemaayer and their friendly team taking out top gong in the BESA Service Award category for cafés employing up to 15 staff.
In this category Cocomo+co, in Bellerive, was Highly Commended, and the Richmond Bakery received the Merit Award.
Bellerive restaurant Marla Singer won the BESA Service Award for Hospitality and Tourism, followed by Driftwood, in Lauderdale, with Highly Commended, and Banjo’s Bakery Café in Rosny with the Merit Award.
Meanwhile Atmosfire in Howrah received bronze in the BESA new business category, and South Arm’s Touch of the MO won the Vanessa Goodwin Marketing Excellence Award.
City of Clarence supports business every day. For more information visit https://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/businesses/
THE FULL BUSINESS EASTERN SHORE WINNERS LIST
Retail:
Winner Barilla Bay Oysters
Highly Commended Cloud Nine Nails and Beauty
Highly Commended Ride Bellerive
Merit Award Bliss Living
Hospitality & Tourism:
Winner Marla SingerHighly Commended Driftwood Restaurant
Merit Award Banjo’s Bakery Rosny
Community:
Winner Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania
Highly Commended Eastside Activity Centre
Highly Commended Sunshine Tennis Club
Merit Award Cremorne Bowls & Community Club
Medical & Allied Health:
Winner Complete Care Pharmacy Rosny Park
Highly Commended Eden Cosmetic Therapies
Merit Award Rokeby Discount Drug Store
Merit Award Hobart Skin Care Clinic
Professional Services:
Winner The Lindisfarne Clinic
Highly Commended Accru Hobart
Merit Award Clarence Chiropractic Centre
Cafés Employing up to 15:
Winner Treats on Franklin
Highly Commended Cocomo + Co
Merit Award Richmond Bak
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Breweries Wineries & Distilleries:
Gold Killara Distillery
Silver Nocton Vineyard
Bronze Pooley Wines
Inclusivity & Diversity:
Gold Variety the Children’s Charity Tasmania
Gold McDonald’s Rosny Park
Silver Nurse Next Door Hobart
Enterprise & Innovation:
Gold Phillip Stephens Funerals
Silver McDonald’s Howrah
New Business:
Gold RACT Rosny
Silver Jim’s Bookkeeping Rosny
Bronze Atmosfire
Eastern Shore Sun $750 Marketing Award:
Richmond Reading Room
Vanessa Goodwin Mentoring Award:
Touch of the MO
Pooley Wines $150 Gift Voucher for Early Nomination:
Robyn Lewis – Milford Forest Tasmania
Business Eastern Shore Business of the Year Award:
Best Friends Pet Resort
Killara Distillery – GOLD – in the Breweries, Wineries and Distillery
Killara Distillery offer garden to glass experiences on a six-acre farm just out of Richmond, situated in the heart of the Coal Valley.
This historical farming region is now synonymous with award-winning wines and boutique cellar doors, breweries and distilleries.
The Killara Distillery team moved to the area nine years ago, creating handcrafted spirits including single-malt whisky, apothecary gins, vodka and Tasmanian bush liquor.
It offers distiller-door sales and tastings at the farm.
Head distiller Kristy Lark-Booth said winning the award was fantastic for Killara but also helped to promote the local area and its industries.
“I love the Coal Valley. It is such a collaborative area. We create and make some beautiful products here, not just spirits but wines and cheeses,” she said.
“At the moment there is a barley growing trial on the property and we are hoping to work with local farmers to create a true localised whiskey that is made from barley grown in the area.”
Ms Lark said most of the botanicals used in Killara gins and liquors were either grown on-site or sourced locally where possible, including juniper berries, coriander seeds and lily rhizomes.
“We are providing an experience where people can come into our garden and really appreciate what we do here,” Ms Lark said.
“And it is great to be able to share our journey with others, to show them how our products are made, and for them to learn about the spirit-making process.”
The other winners of the BESA Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries section included SILVER recipient Nocton Vineyard, and BRONZE recipient Pooley Wines. Both are located at Richmond.