Conditions of Entry

1.  Business Location:  All applications must be related to businesses operating within the areas covered by Campaspe Shire Council, or Murray River Council.

2. Judging:  Judging will be undertaken in three stages:

Stage One: The application form and accompanying information will be used to shortlist finalists in each category. Those shortlisted as finalists will proceed to Stage Two. 

Stage Two: Judges will conduct site visits and interview each finalist. A confidential score and ranking will be given to each finalist.

Stage Three: Results from Stage Two will be collated and the winner of each category will be announced at the Gala Presentation Dinner

·         The judges decisions will be final. Feedback will be available to all finalists on request .

3.  Announcement of Winners: Presentation of winners will be made at the ‘Gala Awards Dinner’ to be held at the Rich River Golf Club on Wednesday, 30 October 2024. Finalists must be available to be present, or represented at the Gala Awards Dinner, or they will be deemed ineligible to enter.

4.  Awards:  The winner of each category will receive a trophy, certificate and window decal. Finalists will also receive a certificate and window decal acknowledging their achievement.

5.  Categories:  Judges reserve the right to move an applicant into a more appropriate category if they see fit. You may enter up to three separate categories, providing you meet the criteria for each one.

• Best Retail Business - Sponsored by McPherson Media

  Open to any retail business selling goods directly to the general public.
  

• Excellence in Tourism - Sponsored by Discovery Parks Group
  Open to any business offering goods or services within the tourism industry.
  

• Excellence in Manufacturing & Trade - Sponsored by Foodmach
  Open to any business involved in manufacturing or value adding.
  

• Best Professional Service – Sponsored by Telstra
  Open to any business providing professional services to the general public or other businesses.

• Best Professional Service – Community – Sponsored by Coolabah Turf
  Open to any business that does not provide a return to stakeholders. These businesses may trade in surplus as long as no person/s or organisation is paid a dividend. Examples include aged care services, hospitals and educational facilities.
  

• Excellence in Health and Wellbeing – Sponsored by Kagome
  Open to any business providing Health and Wellbeing services to the community.
  

• Excellence in Hospitality - Sponsored by Rich River Golf Club
  Open to any business providing food (hospitality), entertainment or accommodation services.
  

• Best New Business -  Sponsored by Community Bank Tongala & Mathoura
  Open to any new business that commenced operations in the past three years.
  

• Best Home-based Business - Sponsored by Moama Bowling Club
  Open to any business where the proprietor's residence is also the principal place of business.
  

• Best Agri-business - Sponsored by Greenham
  Open to any business providing goods and/or services within the primary industries (viticulture, horticulture, dairy, livestock etc.), or who value-add to agricultural products.
  

• Employee of the Year - Sponsored by Melville & Hicks Lawyers
  Recognising excellence in an individual employee. Nominations may be submitted by anyone but entries must be completed by the applicants employer.
  

• Excellence in Marketing – Sponsored by Echuca Moama Tourism
  (Please use Marketing Category Application) This category recognises creativity and innovation in the promotion of products, services and/or destinations. The focus can be for a specific singular or ongoing campaign or ongoing integrated marketing approach delivering innovative marketing/campaigns that supports the promotion of your business.
  

• Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by Edge FM
  Open to any person under the age of 35 who has started and is running their own successful business.
  

• People’s Choice Award - Sponsored by Nichol Trading
  After the initial round of judging occurs and finalists are announced, the public are invited to vote for their favourite finalist business in the People’s Choice Award.
  

• Community Impact  Award- Sponsored by Echuca Regional Health
  Entry will be by community nomination.  Community Impact category spotlights and honors a business or organization whose selfless efforts have made a tangible, measurable impact on the community.

• Business of the Year
  Selected from the winning entries in the above categories.

 6. Application process: All applications must be submitted via the online application form and received before the closing date – 27th June, 2024