They say that as soon as Halloween ends it’s a signal for shops to start advertising for Christmas.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But in Mount Isa there is another marker of the changing of the seasons and it’s not just the plus 40 degree temperatures kicking in.
It is of course the Northern Outback Business Awards which were held on a glittering night at the Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
Held under the auspices of Commerce North West the Northern Outback Business Awards honour the best in business across the North West.
It is a truly regional affair.
Nominations were eligible for businesses and individuals from the local government areas of Boulia, Burke, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Doomadgee, Etheridge, Flinders, McKinlay, Mornington, Mount Isa and Richmond.
And while not surprisingly given the size of the population, Mount Isa businesses dominated it was great to see some out of town businesses also walk away with major honours.
Julia Creek’s Gravel and Grace and Karumba’s End of the Road Motel both won two awards.
Amanda Stevens deserves massive credit for bucking the trend to close businesses in small towns and return to her Julia Creek roots to open Gravel and Grace last year selling Australian made and designed clothes.
The End of the Road Motel won Service excellence award Hospitality and Tourism sector while the motel’s Natasha Heath won Customer Service Hero Award Services sector showing it is possible to deliver top class customer service even when operating in the most remote locations.
Well done to Cloncurry Courier Service who won the coveted business of the year award for 2018 and the Custom Steel Fab and DiLi – Dream It Live It who won three awards.
Congratulations too to all the other businesses that won and were nominated on the night.
Business confidence remains strong in the North West and Commerce North West did a great job to showcase the best of the best on the night –
Derek Barry