ALL

Tuesday, 28th May 2024

Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell MP, has joined Chambers of Commerce and local businesses to celebrate another Small Business Awards Gala.

 

However, unlike the last five years, this years gala was held at a new venue – the Mooloolah Valley Country Club.

 

The gala event is the culmination of two months of nominations and voting to celebrate all that small business is and does for the region.

 

Almost 2,000 votes were cast for the 90 businesses and 41 employees that were nominated by their customers, peers and bosses this year.

 

While the silver “Glassy” is purely a popularity contest based on the number of votes received, the bronze “Glassies” are selected by local the Chamber of Commerce Presidents. The two coveted gold glassies are handpicked by Andrew himself, in consultation with the Chamber Presidents.

 

“It is always difficult to choose the bronze and gold winners due to the quantity and quality of entries, and we deliberate over the options for a long time before selecting the winners.”

This was also the second year implementing the “Hall of Fame” category, to acknowledge certain businesses and employees who have nominated almost every year since the Awards inception and have won a Glassy or two.

Without further ado, the winners of this year’s Glass House Small Business Awards are:

 

• MONTVILLE
• Bronze Business: The Barn on Flaxton
• Silver Business: Fudgyboombahs
• Bronze Employee: Shiralee Cooper from Illume Creations
• Silver Employee: Molly Graves from The Barn on Flaxton

 

 

• MALENY
• Bronze Business: Easton Lawyers
• Silver Business: Concept Coffee
• Bronze Employee: Kirsten Dance from Maleny Veterinary Services
• Silver Employee: Tilly Beckett from Concept Coffee

 

 

• GLASSHOUSE COUNTRY
• Bronze Business: Glasshouse Country & Maleny News
• Silver Business: Crossfit True Phorm
• Bronze Employee: Billie Glover from That Little Dress Shop
• Silver Employee: Kiana Devine from Whites IGA Mooloolah

 

• MORETON BAY
• Bronze Business: Wamuran Country Meats
• Silver Business: Grind & Graze
• Bronze Employee: Tammy Cochran from Peries IGA Woodford
• Silver Employee: Taylor Bloomfield from Grind & Graze

 

• HALL OF FAME
• Clock Shop
• Maleny Jewellers
• Crystal Multiverse
• Rosetta Books
• And finally, the GOLD WINNERS
• Business: Club Glass House
• Employee: Michelle McNeill from Max 24 Hour Fitness Wamuran

 

“Club Glass House have been striving hard for a Glassie win for years now, and it wasn’t a difficult decision to award them the gold business award this year.”

 

“They are the place to be for meals and socialising, a game of lawn bowls and are actively involved in supporting many local charities.”

 

“Many may not know that Club Glass House is actually a not-for-profit and run many charitable events for local groups such as Morris House. They say that it’s important for them to help others to help their community.”

 

“The gold employee nomination was set in stone as soon as we read Michelle’s nomination.”

 

“Her nomination spoke of the way she has given her heart and soul to the community of Wamuran for the past thirteen years in her role at the Max 24 Hour Gym whilst also running the Moreton Healthy and Active Program.”

 

“With an already full work plate, Michelle has also been dealing with a daughter fighting cancer, a son with high functioning Aspergers, another son with pretty recurrent epilepsy and is actively involved with her six-year-old grandson and triplet two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughters. Talk about a busy woman!”

 

Small businesses play a crucial role in creating vibrant and resilient communities, especially in Glass House where we don’t have any large shopping centres. They also contribute to the unique character and charm of our neighbourhoods, making them attractive to tourists which, as we all know, is so important to a community’s local economy.

 

“I host the Glassies each year to celebrate these small businesses and acknowledge the community’s appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Thank you to everyone who nominated, voted, and contributed to the Glassies this year,” concluded Mr. Powell.