2009 GC Business of the Year

DIGGA AUSTRALIA UNEARTHS ANOTHER WIN!

DIGGA Australia has unearthed what it takes to win the 2009 Gold Coast Business of the Year award at a glittering celebration at Conrad Jupiters on Saturday evening.

It was there in black & white that the Gold Coast can clearly boast some of the country’s top businesses when the who’s who of Gold Coast business came out to celebrate the 14th annual Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards Business of the Year Gala.

Committee President, Ian Cousins, said the event “is a celebration of the strength of the Gold Coast business community in challenging times and the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in this wonderful part of the world.”

“Our award winners reflect that in every way, especially our 2009 Business of the Year winner, Digga Australia, who were awarded the honour for their massive expansion in a times when many businesses are downsizing orclosing up shop!” Mr Cousins said.

Digga’s year started off with the purchase & merger of Kanga Loaders into the Digga family in February 2009, the Kanga loader is now fully manufactured by Digga in Yatala.

The company has rolled out 4 new products in the past 18 months including the world first Digga ‘I-Drive’ systems for which they were awarded an Australian International Design Award in May 2009.

At a recent visit to the USA, the company launched ‘Digga North America’ which is currently being established in the state of Iowa. The development of a new top port planetary gearbox won their USA distributor the USA Army contract for 5000 gearboxes over 5 years, which will be fully manufactured & assembled in Australia.

Also on this visit, Digga finalised negotiations for a world supply agreement of a new range of planetary gearboxes they have developed for the worlds largest machinery maker.

To further continue the 'world take-over', Digga now produce their own hydraulic motors in house utilizing leading edge design & components coupled with Digga machining technology. This new technology allows Digga to customize to the needs of their worldwide clients instead of having to design to standard motors available on the market.

“They simply could not be passed up on this occasion. We are thrilled by the quality of businesses we have here in our own backyard & even more so when you see the stamp companies like Digga Australia are making on the rest of the world.” Mr Cousins said.

Over 490 of the Gold Coast’s top business people & VIPs were inattendance, including Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke, Mayoress Helen Clarke.

Joining them at the prestigious black-tie event was a host of loyal supporters from Federal, State & local government & the crème of the Gold Coast business community.

The evening recognised 57 leading Gold Coast enterprises that not only excel at what they do, but regularly set the bar for others to aspire.

Annual awards were awarded to finalists in nine monthly judging categories over the past six months.

In addition the Bob Scott Memorial Encouragement Award was presented to a company that didn’t win a major award but shows strong potential for future success. This award, won by Couplertec, is named in honour of the late founding chair of the judges.

For the second time, the Mayor’s Corporate Social Responsibility Award was awarded to a business that was deemed to have shown exceptional community spirit, The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans. The Mayor presented a $5000 cheque to the company to pass on to their nominated charity, Mudgeeraba Creek State School. The much appreciated prize money will be used to assist resourcing the Learning Centre.

The Awards also honoured prominent Gold Coast Businesswoman, designer & iconic creator of the bikini, Paula Stafford, who was inducted into the Gold Coast Business Person Hall Of Fame for her contributions fashion and to the City of the Gold Coast.

The room erupted with applause as Paula declared that “Tonight is one of the most exciting times of her life”.

Following the formal proceedings, guests danced the night away to hotdance tunes of local band, The Accidents & were also entertained bythe local talent ‘Hip Hop Avenue’ from Varsity College.The group have only been performing together for less than a year & came3rd in the ‘Bring it On’ Queensland Grand Finals.

As always these Awards would not be possible without the generosity of the following sponsors:

Gold Coast City Council, Suncorp, Telstra, AusIndustry, MSL - Michael Sing Lawyers, Griffith University & Sensis Yellow Pages.

And our Major Supporters:

SMART Advertising, Surfers Inkspot, Regina King Photography, Staging Connections, Bond University & KPMG.

Media Sponsors:

The Gold Coast Bulletin, NBN Television, 92.5 Gold FM, 90.9 Sea FM &Graphics Online

The 2009 Category Winners:

2009 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Also MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION - sponsored by AusIndustry

Digga Australia

Formed in 1981, Digga are Australia’s leading manufacturer of earthmoving attachments & planetary drive gearboxes for the Construction& Earth moving Machinery Industry. 100% Australian owned & operated Digga have one of the largest fully integrated manufacturing facilities in Queensland. Exporting product to over 50 countries, Digga have 4 company owned factories & 186 staff to service anextensive worldwide dealer network.

EMERGING BUSINESS- Sponsored by Sensis Yellow Pages

White Sands

White Sands is an edgy new swimwear & resort wear line by Leah Madden. White Sands is designed with women in mind who exude sexy, fun, fashionable attitude & are savvy enough to know quality when she sees it. White Sands is quintessentially glamorous, always with an eye to fashion, and a nod to the carefree style that is so Australian.

FAMILY BUSINESS - sponsored by Telstra Gold Coast

Australian Work& Leisure Canopies

Founded by Bob Frankham in 1974, Australian Work & Leisure Canopies specialise in custom designs & fitouts for truck, four-wheel drives, van & other vehicles that require practical after market adjustments such as fibreglass canopies, mudguards & toolboxes.

Based in Burleigh Heads, AWLC has a staff of 21 & is primarily run by Bob, his wife Caryl & their 5 children who all hold significant roles in the business.

RETAIL, WHOLESALE & DISTRIBUTION - sponsored by Suncorp

Zarraffa's Coffee

Zarraffa's Coffee is a true Queensland success story opening its 35th store on the 18th May 2009 in the Darling Downs region of Toowoomba. The store heralding a new chapter for the Group as it opens the second Drive Thru concept store. 2009 will see the Group open a further five stores despite the global financial crisis. This year, Zarraffa’s Coffee are ranked 20th in the BRW Fast Franchises.

TRADES, PROFESSIONS & SERVICES - sponsored by Michael Sing Lawyers

Linddales Personnel

Linddales Personnel provides skilled labour for Commercial & Residential Building, Civil & Roadworks, Light & Heavy Industrial, Manufacturing, Mining, Site Administration, Retail Construction, Demolition, Traffic Control & Site Security. With 450 on-hire personnel, Linddales Personnel has gone from having an $8 million turnover in 2000 to $35 million today.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & MULTIMEDIA - sponsored by Griffith University

Gotalk

Founded in 2000, the Australian owned gotalk group occupies a unique & enviable position in the telecommunication industry. With sales in excess of $160 million per annum, operations in Australia & New Zealand & over 150 staff, the gotalk group has grown steadily through acquiring other businesses & creating new & exciting cutting edge products.

TOURISM, HOSPITALITY & RECREATION -

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

The 21st Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show retained itsstatus as Australasia’s most significant boat show attracting more than 400exhibitors & featuring close to 600 boats & watercraft. Extensiveinternational marketing drew buyers from Asia, Europe & North America forthe May event. Through owners Mulpha Sanctuary Cove, the Show brings more than$310 million into the Gold Coast economy.

MAYOR’S INNOVATION GC AWARD- Sponsored by GCCC

Formblock

Formblock is a 15 year-old local family company who are dedicated to developing & marketing innovative building products. The patented formblock system is one of the world’s first successful, commercially manufactured mortarless masonry systems, which through the use of it’s unique plastic bridging mechanism, provides significant cost savings in time, concrete, formwork & labour requirements.

ENIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - Sponsored by GCCC

Landmatters

Kerry Shepherd & Chris Walton of Landmatters have designed & built the multi award winning The Ecovillage of Currumbin, an ecologically sustainable property development that exemplifies ‘World’s Best Practice’ in it’s design construction & accompanying processes. The inspirational model is leading the way for a sustainable future for our city & beyond.

Bob Scott Encouragement Award - Couplertec

Couplertec is a proud Burleigh based company focused on eliminating rust. Capacitive Coupling is a rust protection system first introduced to Australia in 1996. CouplerTec’s own R&D technicians have refined & improved the technology which now boasts a 10 year warranty & have more than 500,000 systems now sold throughout Australia, North America & the Middle East.

BUSINESS PERSON HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE - Paula Stafford

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Maddison - Event Coordinator

ph: 1300 887 206