Regional awards recognise inspiring innovators

“Every year, we discover new stories of innovation in this region and again this year, I’ve been stunned by them! People are doing amazing things here,” Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) Chair Russell Stewart said at the conclusion of the 9th Northern Inland Innovation Awards.

The gala awards dinner was held at the Inverell RSM Club on Friday night, 18 November, 2016. A diverse range of businesses and organisations, including seven Local Councils from across the region were represented. The 125 attendees saw videos and heard the stories of the award-winning innovators, with the overall RDANI Innovation of the Year Award going to Wholegrain Milling Company of Gunnedah, which also won the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science “Manufacturing and Engineering” category.

Wholegrain Milling’s Craig Neale said their ground-breaking Certified Sustainable Food System has been five years in development. The traceable, chemical-free product appeals to conscientious consumers and is priced between conventional and “Certified Organic” grain products. “We’re very satisfied with our rate of growth as a result. We’re finding that consumers are receiving it very well and demand is growing at a rate that we’re struggling to keep up with,” he said.

The success of the Certified Sustainable label has meant more employment and increased export markets.
The Inverell Shire Council “Agriculture/Horticulture and Associated Services” category was won by the Best Food Garden, Inverell. The Finalists were GJ & MJ Manvell (SSS BBQ Barns) of Tamworth and UWE’s Currabubula Station. A Highly Commended Award went to Narrabri’s Graeme Rapp.

The Prime Super “Health, Aged-Care and Disability Services” category was won by Camp Quality. Finalists were Youth Insearch and Challenge Community Services of Tamworth. A Highly Commended award went to Rebloom Flower Recyclers of Tamworth.

The Telstra Store Inverell “Retail, Tourism and Leisure” category was won by the New England High Country Councils. Finalists were Narrabri’s Why Leave Town Promotions and The Ashford Salami Festival. A Highly Commended award went to Blackart Welding of Deepwater.

The University of New England “Professional and Government Services” category was won by Tamworth Regional Council. Finalists were Horsanity and Uralla Shire Council. A Highly Commended award went to Regional Finance Solutions, Inverell.

The Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science "Manufacturing and Engineering" category finalists were Weir Built of Glen Innes and Australian Recycled Plastics, Narrabri. Bethel Farm Mill of Bingara was highly commended.

The White Rock Wind Farm “Research and Education” category was won by Macintyre High School, Inverell. Finalists were Z-Net Uralla and HealthWise New England North West. A Highly Commended award went to the TAFE NSW Transport and Logistics Industry Liaison Unit.

Nationals Senator John Williams presented the Community Contribution Award to the Namoi CWA.
The guest speaker was the 2015 Innovation of the Year Winner, Lively Linseed's Jacqueline Donoghue.

For details of our award recipients, download this pdf

Comprehensive descriptions of the 2016 Northern Inland Innovation Award recipients (302 KB)

RDA Northern Inland Chair Russell Stewart with 2016 Innovation of the Year Winners, Renee and Craig Neale and Mathew Jensen of Wholegrain Milling Company, Gunnedah.

Inverell Shire Mayor Paul Harmon with Danny Middleton from Agriculture/Horticulture and Associated Services winner, The Best Food Garden.

Winning grins from Inverell’s Best Employment… Robert Walters, Tom Sanderson, Inverell Shire Mayor Paul Harmon, Danny Middleton, Jon Watts and Kate Ottewell.

Inverell Shire Mayor Paul Harmon with Agriculture & Horticulture Highly Commended Graeme Rapp of Narrabri.

Inverell Shire Mayor Paul Harmon with Agriculture & Horticulture finalist, UWE’s Currabubula Station’s Tim Griffith.

Prime Super Health, Aged-Care and Disability services winner Camp Quality was represented by Armidale Community Activity Group member James Urquhart. Pictured with National Relationships Manager for Prime Super Rod Stewart.

Prime Super Health, Aged-Care and Disability Finalist Youth Insearch’s David Allard and John Green, with National Relationships Manager for Prime Super Rod Stewart.

National Relationships Manager for Prime Super Rod Stewart (centre), with Tamworth Finalist Challenge Community Services’ Julia Csanki and Sharon Kachel.

National Relationships Manager for Prime Super Rod Stewart (centre), with Highly Commended Rebloom Flower Recyclers’ Stephanie Tutt-Steer and her mother, Sue-Anne Steer from Tamworth.

Elissia Goldman from the Telstra Store Inverell, with Highly Commended Bobbee-Jo Mackenzie from Blackart Welding, Deepwater.

Elissia Goldman from the Telstra Store Inverell (second from left), with Retail, Tourism and Leisure Finalist, The Ashford Salami Festival’s Lorrayne Riggs, Pene Riggs and Connie Minos.

Elissia Goldman from the Telstra Store Inverell with Retail, Tourism and Leisure Finalist, Ashley Watt of Why Leave Town Promotions, Narrabri.

University of New England’s Director of Strategic Research Initiatives, Associate Professor David Miron presented to “Professional and Government Services” winner Tamworth Regional Council, represented by Sam Eriksson.

Lynn Jenkin’s Horsanity received a “Professional and Government Services” finalist trophy from UNE’s Director of Strategic Research Initiatives, Associate Professor David Miron.

Uralla Shire Council’s Rechelle Leahy received a “Professional and Government Services” finalist trophy from UNE’s Director of Strategic Research Initiatives, Associate Professor David Miron.

New Enlgand High Country Councils won the Retail, Tourism and Leisure category in a Council collaboration win… Glen Innes Severn Mayor Steve Toms, Tenterfield Shire’s Harry Bolton, Elissia Goldman from the Telstra Store Inverell, Armidale Regional Council’s Katrina George, Walcha Shire’s Susie Crawford, Glen Innes Severn’s Mary Hollingworth, Armidale Regional Council’s Tony Broomfield, Uralla Shire’s Rechelle Leahy and Uralla Shire Mayor Michael Pearce, with Inverell Shire Mayor Paul Harmon, kneeling.

The Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Regional Manager Grayson Wolfgang presented the "Manufacturing and Engineering" top gong to Renee and Craig Neale of Wholegrain Milling Company, Gunnedah.

The Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Regional Manager Grayson Wolfgang (second from left) presented a "Manufacturing and Engineering" finalist award to Australian Recycled Plastics’ Terrence Duncan, Jennifer Grant, Helen and Dale Smith.

The Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Regional Manager Grayson Wolfgang presented a "Manufacturing and Engineering" finalist award to Jay and Tanya Weir of Weir Built, Glen Innes.

Technical Services Manager for Goldwind Australia, Steven Nethery presented the White Rock Wind Farm ‘Research and Education’ winner’s trophy to Macintyre High School’s Deb Snaith.

Technical Services Manager for Goldwind Australia, Steven Nethery presented a White Rock Wind Farm ‘Research and Education’ finalist trophy to Z-Net Uralla representative Teresa French.

Technical Services Manager for Goldwind Australia, Steven Nethery presented a White Rock Wind Farm ‘Research and Education’ finalist trophy to HealthWise New England North West’s Fiona Strang, Anne Williams and Linda Foskey.

Technical Services Manager for Goldwind Australia, Steven Nethery presented a White Rock Wind Farm ‘Research and Education’ Highly Commended Award to the TAFE NSW, Transport and Logistics Industry Liaison Unit.

Senator John Williams presented the Community Contribution Award to representatives of the Namoi Group of the Country Women's Association of NSW, Michelle Eggins and Marilyn Fogg.

Craig and Renee Neale from 2016 RDA Northern Inland Innovation of the Year, Wholegrain Milling Company for its Certified Sustainable system and label.

The guest speaker was the 2015 Innovation of the Year Winner, Lively Linseed's Jacqueline Donoghue of Mallaley.