The Regional Achievement and Community Awards in Victoria

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The Regional Achievement and Community Awards is arguably the biggest regional awards program in Victoria, and Australia Post is a Patron of the Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards for the fourth year in 2008.

This year’s program is set to launch at four regional centres from 1 May.

1 May: Ballarat: Fine Art Gallery, 10.30am

6 May: Mildura: Rural City Council, 10.30am

7 May: Warrnambool: Football Club, Albert Park, Cramer Street, 10.30am
14 May: Morwell: Latrobe Rural City Council, 10.30am

The Australia Post Business Achievement Award and the Australia Post Events and Tourism Award are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions that businesses and events and tourism operators are making throughout regional and rural Victoria.

Australia Post Business Achievement Award - past winners

2007: Clyne Foods of Warracknabeal

Clyne Foods of Warracknabeal is the brain child of Chris Clyne, who was concerned about the status of the dried fruit industry, in particular foreign ownership and imports. Over three million dollars has been invested since the business was established in 2004, resulting in a 100 per cent Australian owned product. The company achieved a 20 per cent increase in export contracts this year, and has also added value to many other rural and regional businesses during a time of hardship and drought, increasing it’s growers from 68 to 220 since its inception.

2006: AWMA - Cohuna

AWMA specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of water control infrastructure and technology, and provides solutions to the irrigation, urban and waste water sectors.

In the past six years, AWMA has established a six acre manufacturing site, employing a team of over 60 employees. AWMA is dedicated to ensuring products save time, money and water for customers and are dedicated to researching and developing innovative infrastructure and technology that improves the economic and environmental sustainability of our national water resources.

2005: Patties Foods of Bairnsdale

Patties Foods of Bairnsdale commenced as a small family owned cake shop in Lakes Entrance in 1966 with a staff of four, and is now one of the largest 100 per cent Australian family owned food manufacturing companies. Still run by the six sons of Peter and Annie Rijs, the original founders, it is a true Australian success story. Patties Foods is the market leader in the manufacture of frozen savoury pastries and frozen desserts with brands including Patties, Herbert Adams, Nanna’s, Snowy River and the Australian icon “Four ’n’ Twenty”. Located in Bairnsdale, Patties supplies the national grocery route and foodservice markets and is a major employer in East Gippsland. It is regarded as one of the largest pie manufacturing companies in Australia.

Australia Post Events and Tourism Award past winners:

2007: Murrabit Country Market

Murrabit Country Market was established in 1977 to provide financial support to and bring together the local community in a time of economic hardship.

The Market has grown to become one of the largest and longest running markets in Australia, with more than four hundred stall holders offering a wide range of wares to over ten thousand people who attend each market.

This has been achieved in a town with a population of just 490 people, almost all of whom participate in some way to run the market, which has created a strong sense of community pride and financial independence.

2006: Elmore and District Machinery Field Days

The Field Days are held annually over three days during the first week of October. More than 650 exhibitors and up to 50,000 people attend each year. Over 300 volunteers from local community organisations help to ensure the smooth running of the Field Days, providing catering, parking, ticket sales and courier services. Volunteers earn a share of the profits for the organisations they work with, which together with sponsorships and grants greatly benefit the local community. To date nearly $2 million has been donated to local projects.

2005: The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival, Corryong

The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival is held annually, bringing together the Upper Murray community with people from around Australia and the world to celebrate traditional High Country and bush culture, in particular the imagery portrayed in by Banjo Paterson’s famous poem “The Man from Snowy River”. This is a unique bush gathering of mountain riders, poets, artists, and lovers of the Australian High Country and pioneering spirit. The Festival offers contestants, visitors and locals alike a unique opportunity to be a part of the celebration of traditional Australian bush skills. Over 18,000 attendees bring to the township an estimated economic contribution of $3 million.