The July 4 gathering saw newly installed business chamber president Brad Davis welcome the crowd as they enjoyed wines and savoury finger food, with music by young Jack Phemister.

“The Business Awards are driven by the Yass Valley chamber, but are an extension of the NSW Business Chamber,” Mr Davis said.

All of the night’s winners will now proceed to the Far South Coast regional awards; and success there would see them progress to the state level awards.

A new feature of the night included a $2000 radio advertising package for every winner from Canberra station 1053 2CA, also a category sponsor.

Before Yass Valley mayor Rowena Abbey helped Mr Davis present the awards, she praised the “amazing group of businesses, small, large and growing” in the valley, and the relationship the chamber had developed with the council over the past few years.

“You’re the heart and soul of what makes businesses grow and … that’s a fantastic thing,” she said.

“From a council perspective, we look forward to working closely with you, to try out new ideas, such as the temporary street crossing.

“It may or may not be a success from the community’s point of view, but if we don’t try these new things – and you are the ones who bring us these ideas – everything stays same-same, and that’s not what I want to see, and I’m sure it is not what you want to see.”

The winners in each category were:

Outstanding Business Leader

“I often comment that it’s not often you’re on a committee where you really want to go to the meetings and you really want to go to the networking breakfasts. It is really a lot of fun,” Mr Pilbrow, the former business chamber president, said.

“I’ve enjoyed working with you all, all the way back to Ian McClung, who deserves credit for getting the chamber back up and running.

“Together we have shown there is power in numbers; we can do a lot when we work together.”

He thanked his wife Lynne, business partner Michael Collins – “one thing I encourage everyone to do is to find a business partner that’s younger, smarter and better looking and your business will go from strength to strength,” he joked to the laughing crowd – and Brooke Watson, who has filled his vacancy on the awards committee.

Excellence in Social Enterprise

Sophie Peer accepted on behalf of the collective. “We’ve been open nearly two years, and our tagline is ‘meet, share, create’,” she said.

“Food, coffee and retail is something we’re passionate about; but community and sharing is why we opened these doors.

“From the rubble of a seven-year closure, that this building was – the hardware store that many of you knew it as – to what it is now, we are really, really proud. But the only reason we are really proud and the only reason it’s worked is because of you.

“We’ve raised thousands of dollars for charities we believe in, thanks to your generosity; and we’ve been able to employ.”

She acknowledged Trader & Co was “one of seven cafes in town and … we’re so thrilled we can add something”.

“This is a great community and a great town, and I love my Mondays off when I can go to the other cafes!”

Start-up Superstar

Business owner-operator Margot Shannon said Merchant Campbell “could not be where we are without the support of the community of Yass”.

“So, thank you,” she said. “Like Sophie said, we opened to add more choice and more attractions to Yass, rather than to take away from shops that had been here a long time.

“We are excited to grow. The women on staff, I couldn’t [do it without them]. I’m really excited!”

Excellence in Sustainability

Owner-operator with husband Daniel, Toni Neuhaus said she wanted to thank everyone in Yass “for the support you’ve given us as part of Trader & Co. It’s an amazing community to be a part of, and flourish and grow and learn in.”

Excellence in Small Business

Stephanie Helm thanked husband Ben Osborne, with whom she partners in running the business.

The daughter of legendary Murrumbateman vintner Ken Helm, Ms Helm “grew up knowing how hard it was to establish a small business, so I think I was a bit crazy to do it myself, but my husband has been my rock and has taken our vision and turned into something everyone is starting to enjoy.”

Outstanding Employer of Choice

Mr Pilbrow’s business partner Michael Collins spoke on behalf of the company, saying it was great to be recognised as an outstanding employer of choice, which was the result of having “outstanding employees”.

“We have a strange set-up,” he mused, “headquartered in Yass but we actually do have employees in Los Angeles and Brussels and York in the UK as well as Yass and Canberra [and the Illawarra].”

Outstanding Access and Inclusion

Six8 Coffee Roaster’s co-owner/operator, Daniel Neuhaus spoke of their intitial struggle to comply with disability and access regulations, “but now we’ve got through that, we’re really appreciative to have this ramp, and access toilets, and that we’re very accessible for people with physical disabilities.

“But one thing we also try very hard at is to be a socially accessible venue,” he said.

“To share a small story of what we’re about: a couple of months ago I heard from a mother of a young adult with a disability who often comes in here.

“She stopped me in the street and said, Daniel, I am just so thankful of the way you look after my daughter and treat her when she comes in. She just feels so comfortable to come into Trader & Co.

“So I guess for me that was a testimonial of what we’re all about.”

Outstanding Young Entrepreneur

Craig Irwin was unable to attend the evening. Cr Abbey accepted the award for Outstanding Young Entrepreneur on his behalf.

The Yass Tribune will profile the award-winners in a series of articles over the coming six months.