2009 Small Business Award Winners
Congratulations to all our winners!
December - Transaero Pty Ltd - Rob Scott & Kim Skyring
Transaero is a small family company run by the owners - Rob and Kim. Both have deep roots in aviation, Rob as an engineer and enthusiastic pilot and Kim as a commercial pilot, aviation enthusiast and business manager.
Caring for aircraft is more than just a job to them - it's what they most enjoy doing. When they are not working on aircraft you will find them flying their vintage Auster to aviation events around the country.
Transaero is committed to safety excellence in Aviation. They strive to maintain the highest standards of quality through their unique mix of old-fashioned values and modern innovation. Through practical application of Safety and Quality management systems, we endeavour to provide a comprehensive aircraft maintenance and airworthiness control service tailored to meet the varied needs of today's aviators.
www.transaero.com.au
November - Aloha Pools - Greg Fell
A streamlined lap pool. An elegant courtyard plunge pool. A stunning wet-edge design that disappears over the horizon.
Aloha Pools have been constructing award-winning concrete pools in Melbourne for over thirty-five years. They are credited with an established reputation amongst the pool building industry for innovative designs and individual concepts.
Aloha Pools have built thousands of swimming pools, with projects ranging in scale from small inner-city plunge pools and courtyard spas to lap pools and commercial Olympic-size pools. They specialise in complex wet-edge pool designs and constructions in demanding locations.
From initial design through to swimming pool construction and follow-up maintenance, the Aloha Pools team combine quality workmanship and careful material selection with a high level of customer service.
www.alohapools.com.au
October - OzMates Travel - Peter Negri
Since 1995 Ozmates Travel has been taking adults with intellectual, ABI and other disabilities on holidays within Australia and Overseas. They provide qualified carers to ensure their passengers are fully looked after. Holidays can vary from overnight to longer and include Australian land based holidays, and tours to New Zealand, U.K, Europe and America, as well as cruises to the Pacific.
The business continues to evolve as they develop more hoidays tailored to the specific requirements of their passengers. In 2010, they will be introducing a new holiday to the Game Parks of South Africa. This is an exciting business with 4 core staff, over 30 casual staff, and business growth of 60% over 2007/08. And most importantly, the staff have as much fun as their clients.
www.ozmates.com.au
September - The Physio Co. - Tristan White
The concept behind Pysio Co is helping Australians Over 65 stay mobile, safe and happy. A Physiotherapy Company that is a specialist health provider to residents of retirement villages and aged care facilities. The Physio Co currently visits over 5000 clients at more than 70 different locations every week.
The Physio Company was started by Tristan White in 2004, when he was 24 years old. Tristan was working part time as a physiotherapist in one aged care facility when he identified an opportunity to create a customer focused physiotherapy service for aged care residents to improve their quality of life and create some fun.
Today, The Physio Co employs 25 people and was ranked NO.37 on the 2009 BRW Great Places to Work List.
www.thephysioco.com.au
August - Cuddlefish - Caroline Hume
Cuddle Fish is a childrens swimwear brand, created, founded and manufactured in Australia. The concept behind the brand is to provide a range of fun stylish swimwear that is respectful of the innocence of children and their need to be protected. As such their swimwear have an SPF 50+ rating and some designs include a built in buoyancy aide.
The range was born in Elsternwick when Caroline was raising her 7 and 9 year old children. They now export all over the globe and hold exclusive contracts with some leading department stores.
www.cuddlefish.com.au
July - Comwell Property Management - Felicity Maxwell
Facility is in the business of making home maintenance trouble free. Her business was born out of personal frustration with a painter. She quickly realised that there was a business opportunity to help inexperienced or time poor people in seeking high quality trades people.
www.comwellproperty.com.au
June - Immortal Fitness Personal Training - Byron Koester
Byron, at the age of 30, has developed a very successful fitness business employing 7 trainers. The business combines natural therapies with food awareness, lifestyle coaching, reiki and naturally, fitness. The business is very much based on personal training rather than the mass group training offered by so many other fitness businesses. To assist in the personal feel the business operates out of a 1920's style building with a friendly welcoming atmosphere.
www.immortalfitness.com.au
May - Rainy Day Books - Meryll Williams
All Meryl's life she wanted to own a bookstore. At the age of 63, Meryl has achieved her dream. She has become the local hub for the village community, with many dropping in to sit on the couch and have a chat and to then search for a book that will take them to the theatre of their mind.
Meryl is a staunch supporter of book fairs, the local community and the Dandenong Ranges yarra Valley area. She offers an online search facility that allows buyers to hunt down books that she will then collect and post to them directly.
www.rainydaybooks.com.au
April - Pizza Local - Emil Parthenides
Emil has started a business to assist small pizza shop owners compete on a level playing field with bigger pizza franchises.
Commonly small businesses lack the buying power and the ability to advertise that the franchises or larger players have available.
Emil's idea was to create a website and a phone number that would allow anyone to find the local independent pizza shop that services their area. The idea is for the caller to dial 131 PIZZA, give their postcode and they will be directly connected to the nearest pizza shop.
www.pizzalocal.com.au
March - Find A Babysitter.com.au - Delia Timms
Find a Babysitter.com.au is a parents dream. Fast efficient and professional, the website allows parents to find babysitters and Nannies all at the click of a mouse. The website cuts out the middleman and delivers to parents via email or text messages, the nanny or babysitter that meets their needs. The website also allows prospective babysitters to view the job postings and to offer their services to a broader audience. Find a Babysitter now operates nationwide and offers the service to over 16,000 subscribed parents.
www.findababysitter.com.au
Pictured from left: Camillo D'Alessandro (Momentum Energy CEO), Delia Timms (1st winner and owner of Find A Babysitter.com.au), Denis Walter (3AW Afternoons host), Honorable Joe Helper MP (Minister for Small Business).
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