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Walcha businesses urged to represent their community

Discussing innovation in local businesses... Walcha Shire Mayor, Cr Bill Heazlett, RDA Northern Inland Snr Project Officer, Kim-Trieste Hastings, Walcha Shire General Manager, Jack O'Hara and Peter Sniekers, the Northern Inland Region Business Development Manager for the NSW Dept Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure & Services.
Discussing innovation in local businesses... Walcha Shire Mayor, Cr Bill Heazlett, RDA Northern Inland Snr Project Officer, Kim-Trieste Hastings, Walcha Shire General Manager, Jack O'Hara and Peter Sniekers, the Northern Inland Region Business Development Manager for the NSW Dept Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure & Services.

The 2011 Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) Innovation Awards deadline for entries is fast approaching. Business or public sector organisation representatives are being urged to put their hand up for recognition at a regional level.

Walcha Shire Mayor, Cr Bill Heazlett has called on businesses in the Walcha Shire to enter the Northern Inland Innovation Awards now. “I would like to see a lot of our local businesses enter these awards. It stands to benefit the business people who apply. It will also make our community look good on the regional stage," he said.

"We want to see entries from local businesses who are at the cutting edge of technology or making a go of it by being innovative in a range of business types, such as tourism, agriculture, engineering or the arts."

Mayor Heazlett said that from agriculture to the arts, Walcha has been moving forward in recent years. "We've have a major new dairy operative start up and that has had a huge impact on the community. Following the development of our open-air sculpture park, a private art gallery has opened up. It has been a wonderful addition to the town."

'Do not delay' is the message from the awards' organiser. "If you have pride in what your business or organisation is doing and (particularly) in how it is doing things differently, then now is the time to enter and make the rest of the region proud of its progressive, innovative and dedicated business operators," RDANI Senior Project Officer, Kim-Trieste Hastings said. "Our region's businesses are closely linked to their local communities. Yet, their innovative spirit and community contributions are under-recognised. The Northern Inland Innovation Awards provide that recognition and promotion."

Entries are being sought from throughout the Armidale Dumaresq, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah, Guyra, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Tamworth Regional, Tenterfield, Uralla and Walcha Council areas.

Categories are: Agriculture / Horticulture and associated services; Tourism / Leisure and Services; Professional and Retail services; Manufacturing and Engineering; and Research and Education. The 2011 Innovation of the Year Award will be presented to the leading innovator across all categories. Innovation is not necessarily invention; it can, for example, be a practice, approach or procedure.

The Awards have attracted public and private sector support this year, including: the NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services; the Federal Government's Enterprise Connect; AusIndustry; New England Mutual; AgriFood Skills Australia; Austsafe Super; and Eastern Star Gas, with RDANI being the primary funding body.

Ms Hastings said that RDANI is mindful of how 'time-stressed' the region's businesses are, so the process is concise. "By entering, you not only stand to promote the efforts of your business at local and regional levels, you will also help promote and inspire Northern Inland NSW."

The closing date for entries is Wednesday, 21 September and forms can be found at www.niia.com.au.

The gala awards presentation evening will be held at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club on Friday, 28 October. Tickets need to be purchased by Friday, 14 October, at a cost of $60.00 pp.
 

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