Garry Wilbraham
Secretary Manager, Bomaderry Bowling Club
Garry Wilbraham joined the Bomaderry Bowling Club (BBC) as an in house poker machine technician in 1983.
In 1986, Garry became the Secretary Manager at BBC and has held this position for 21 years. In this period the BBC has grown significantly and has amalgamated with the Berry Bowling Club. Currently, the Bomaderry Bowling Club employs over 100 staff at both clubs.
Garry has represented business in the area through a number of means including holding a position of President at the Illawarra Shoalhaven Club Managers Association for five years, as Federal Councillor on the Club Managers Association Australia for two years representing the area from Wollongong to the Victorian Boarder. He has also represented Illawarra Shoalhaven at the State Council of Clubs New South Wales and been a member of the Shoalhaven Area Consultative Committee for five years.
Garry Wilbraham believes that there is “no better place to be than the Shoalhaven and that this is a great place to start a business” and we can see that through his dedication and commitment to the local area.
Home Based/Micro Business
Party Essentials, Nowra
A love of balloons was the turning point for this innovative small business. The business began as a home-based enterprise selling children’s theme party ware. After attending her first Balloon Conference in 2002, owner Linda Barker quickly fell in love with what could be achieved and created with balloons. Decorating with them now forms 90% of her business. In 2005, Linda opened her retail store in Junction Street which took her business to new levels.
Linda also seeks to educate people about balloons. Linda believes that even though balloons are sometimes portrayed as having a detrimental impact, they are actually made from 100% latex which is bio-degradable and environmentally friendly.
Gift Hampers are another area which Party Essentials focuses on. Linda found there was a lack of choice of ready and custom made hampers within the local area. Party Essentials provides more choice to clientele with hampers for all occasions all year round.
In 2008 Linda will be undertaking an examination to achieve worldwide renowned Certified Balloon Artist (CBA) rating, in the balloon industry. This accreditation is the highest level that can be achieved in the balloon industry. Party Essentials has also received Balloon Accreditation from the Balloon and Artists Suppliers of Australia (BASA).
Ulladulla Furniture One
Ulladulla Furniture One is a business which prides itself on making its staff and customers feel special. Owner, Vaughan Sansom believes that staff are the best asset of a business and should be treated with the utmost respect and rewarded for their efforts and achievements.
Not only is the store dedicated to its staff but shows a high level of commitment towards its customers. A major initiative of the store is to
thank each customer for their patronage with a thank you note at each delivery and bonus gifts at random intervals. On another note Ulladulla Furniture One assemble all furniture on delivery as they are aware of the anguish of putting together furniture that sometimes won’t fit together or has missing parts. This has reduced both call-backs and has amazed customers with this good old-fashioned service. Ulladulla Furniture One believes that these practices create a better shopping experience for the community.
This business is achieving strong growth in sales each year. Having introduced seven days a week trading Ulladulla Furniture One aims to keep people shopping locally.
Hanlon Windows, Bomaderry
Hanlon Windows first established by Brian and Judy Hanlon in 1979 at Shoalhaven Heads. Brian a carpenter
by trade had the industry knowledge and expertise to succeed. The business was first set up as a re-seller of windows and doors. Hanlon Windows became one of the most recognised family owned and operated businesses
in the Shoalhaven.
Now a second generation family business, Hanlon Windows has gone from strength to strength and today is one of the largest privately owned window manufacturers in Australia. The business operates from 6 locations in NSW and employs over 90, mostly in the Shoalhaven.
Quality and Improvement is a part of the success of Hanlon Windows, with the company being accredited
with the Australian Window Association and also being Quality Assured to ISO 9002 for the last 7 years.
Hanlon Windows takes two new apprentices every year in the trade of glazing and has staff attending courses conducted by TAFE and the local university campus. Traineeships are offered in woodworking, reception, and general administration.
Hanlon Windows, Bomaderry
Hanlon Windows first established by Brian and Judy Hanlon in 1979 at Shoalhaven Heads. Brian a carpenter by trade had the industry knowledge and expertise to succeed. The business was first set up as a re-seller of windows and doors. Hanlon Windows became one of the most recognised family owned and operated businesses in the Shoalhaven.
Now a second generation family business, Hanlon Windows has gone from strength to strength and today is one of the largest privately owned window manufacturers in Australia. The business operates from 6 locations in NSW and employs over 90, mostly in the Shoalhaven.
Quality and Improvement is a part of the success of Hanlon Windows, with the company being accredited
with the Australian Window Association and also being Quality Assured to ISO 9002 for the last 7 years.
Hanlon Windows takes two new apprentices every year in the trade of glazing and has staff attending courses conducted by TAFE and the local university campus. Traineeships are offered in woodworking, reception, and general administration.
Regional Development
Bakers on the Go, Nowra
Bakers On the Go is the only wholesale bakery delivery specialist operating in the Shoalhaven. The business commenced trading in 2005 from premises in Nowra under the guidance of the NEIS Scheme. Products are sourced from both local bakeries and the largest independent bakeries in Australia. The purchase of a refrigerated van in the near future will see the distribution of gluten and grain free products in the Shoalhaven.
Bakers On the Go supply all major chain supermarkets in the Shoalhaven 7 days a week with bread products under contract. Local charities and community organisations are recipients of regular donations of bread products.
New products are sought out, collected, and delivered to the customer. A wholesale bakery market has opened giving local business another way of expanding – new products increase sales and also keeping the prices down is a benefit to the community.
Shoalhaven Business Person
Laurie Wright
Wright's Chainsaws, Nowra
Laurie has been the proprietor and driving force for the business since its inception. Laurie Wright eats, sleeps and breaths “Stihl”.
Laurie had the drive and vision to expand from a business sideline from his service station in Kangaroo Valley to a single focus business in 1981. He worked hard in the establishment stage to gain contacts to supply local sawmills and government agencies, which still stand today.
Leading the industry has been a strength of Laurie Wright, providing Stihl with an avenue to promote programs on an Australia wide basis.
He has been to Germany to visit the Stihl plant on 4 occasions at the invitation of Mr Stihl. Support for the Stihl philosophy of supplying a quality product at a reasonable price with specialised service back-up has been a cornerstone of Laurie’s business ethos.
Global Contact Bookstore, Berry
Global Contact Bookstore is more than a book store it assists with many peoples lifestyles and well-beingness... It brings together the broadest collection of books, jewellery, giftware, audios and visual aids from around the world enabling customers to connect with their spiritual self.
The vision at Global Contact is to reintroduce clients to themselves to ensure they live their life to the fullest and embrace transformations insisting to live with joy, love, peace and awareness. Factors in their success include honesty, integrity and providing a safe and ‘joy filled’ environment for every customer that walks in their door. Recognition is positive feedback from clients who return time and time again for a ‘global contact’ experience.
When dreams are shattered, when death leaves emptiness, when sufferings leave pain Global Contact assists with the tools to repair and rewire and replace.
Micro Business Award
Small Enterprise Award
Nowra Wildlife Park
Nowra Wildlife Park is primarily a tourist attraction that exhibits native and exotic animals, birds and reptiles. The park is the largest native animal park on the South Coast and is situated on 16 acres of native bushland with majestic sandstone cliffs on the Shoalhaven River. The Park is open to the public everyday, except Christmas Day.
The Park has been in operation for 30 years, and the current owners Nick and Corinne Schilko have owned the park for the last 2 years. They have developed a comprehensive marketing plan to increase tourist awareness of the park and promote the unique venue. This new campaign has leveraged on the existing reputation and added a new lease on life for the Park.
The park runs an educational program for students, drawing on schools from the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions. The program offers students a unique hands-on learning experience. Recognition to date has included an Award of encouragement at the recent South Coast Awards for Excellence in Tourism.
Box Built, Bomaderry
Box Built Pty Ltd is a timber and cardboard packaging solutions company supplying products and services to companies from Bega to Gosford and west to Canberra. Packaging is supplied to industries as diverse as defence, mining, telecommunications, paper, agricultural, removals, and all businesses that transport their product intercity, interstate, or internationally.
Box Built Pty Ltd is a joint venture between a Queensland company who have been in this industry for 11 years and local businessman John Fisher. The business was purchased from an administrator in May 2004 with 1 customer, revenue of $750,000 and six employees. After two years the business has grown to 120 customers with revenue in excess of $2.7m and 25 employees. The company is proud of its achievements so far, and its aim is to not only return all the lost contracts to the Shoalhaven but to continue to bring new business to the area.
‘On Time Every Time’ is a company policy. A committed team of people work together to achieve the company goals. Through honest and open communication the company has created a workplace that allows all employees to add value and participate in the success of the business.
Medium/Large Enterprise Award
