Yorke and Mid North

Sony Centre Arts Award

Winner – Orroroo Quilters

Orroroo Quilters has a strong focus with a specific theme, which enables the quilters to showcase their latest pieces of artistic and skilful work.

They produce a biannual event displaying a wide range of skills and techniques using fabrics as a basis.

The local hospital and community home have been just two of the local beneficiaries of quilts, but money raised through the display is also generated back into the community, with donations to the local school, the Outback Pastoral Service and the Lions Club just to name a few.

 

Elders Community Group Award

Winner – Gladstone Community Development & Tourism Association Inc.

The Gladstone Community Development Tourism Association was formed in March 1997 following the amalgamation of the Gladstone Community Development Board and the Gladstone Traders Group. 

Their achievements over the past 12 months include the official opening of the new parklands in the main street, which was opened by Minister Paul Holloway last year, and the organisation of Clean up Australia Day in Gladstone.

Gladstone is now known within the region to be a town run by volunteers, with a high level of participation.

 

Elders Community Individual Award

Winner – Merrilyn Hewett

As the Director of Nursing at Barunga Village, a not-for-profit provider of aged care services in the small rural town of Port Broughton, Merilyn’s role involves providing strategic direction for the organisation while managing the care and services of residential aged care facility Barunga Homes, independent living units for lower income earners (Barunga Cottages) and a new retirement village (Barunga by the Sea).

Providing leadership to more than 70 staff, Merilyn is passionate about encouraging professional development. She is a role model for staff as she has studied externally, while continuing to work full time, for 6 years to achieve her Masters in Health Management. In addition, Merilyn regularly mentors staff that study because she understand the hurdles they face living in a rural location.

A decade ago Merilyn recognised the challenges associated with attracting qualified staff to rural areas and to overcome this problem she instigated a Certificate lll traineeship program where the trainees complete both their practical and theoretical component at Barunga Village.

This year Merilyn has recruited her fiftieth trainee and as a consequence of this process, Barunga Village residents have enjoyed the continuality of qualified and personal care. Merilyn has been able to access scholarships for a number of trainees who have progressed and become enrolled or registered nurses.

 

Westpac Large Business Award

Winner – Ardrossan Foodland

In the time since opening their new supermarket in December 2007 Ardrossan Foodland has achieved exceptional growth. From the General Store that was originally owned by John Sandercock and his family, which employed six people in 1983, Ardrossan Foodland now employs around 45 locals.

John Sandercock, Chief Executive Officer of Ardrossan Foodland says that it is only through the wonderful support they have received from the community that Ardrossan Foodland has been able to grow and develop in to what it is today.

The Sandercock family and Ardrossan Foodland give back just as much support as they get from their community. They have always believed in the importance of not just living in a community, not just giving back to a community, but actually being involved in the community.

 

Westpac Small Business Award

Winner – Mathie’s Meat Shoppe

Mathie’s Meat Shoppe is an established butcher shop located in the picturesque Clare Valley. They sell a wide range of meat products to local residents, tourists to the region, local clubs, local businesses and retail outlets state wide.

Mathie’s Meat Shoppe differ from their competitors because they have chosen to focus on locally branded products. This has met the current consumer market trend, with undisputed evidence showing that consumers are more likely to purchase branded products than non-branded products. By only using local produce Mathie’s Meat Shoppe has seen a benefit to the environment, as they experienced a huge reduction in their overall transportation needs. They now also have increased control over the quality of their products, and are able to support industry in their region. 

 

Viterra Sports Award

Winner – Port Pirie Regional Gymnastics Academy

The Port Pirie Regional Gymnastics Academy offers competitive and non-competitive gymnastics programs for males and females of all ages.

The aim of the Port Pirie Regional Gymnastics Academy is to become one of the best gymnastics clubs in the State. They are a community minded organisation, and display a high level of professionalism as a sporting organisation. They are dedicated to promoting and advocating for the sport of gymnastics throughout regional South Australia.

The Port Pirie Regional Gymnastics Academy is currently the 2011 Country Club Champion, and has many State Team and Individual Champions.

The contribution of the club through its devoted coaches, volunteers, parents and committee members provides invaluable opportunities for the gymnasts, their families and the sporting community.

 

Hames Sharley Sustainability Award

Winner – Bendleby Ranges (2011 Telstra Hall of Fame inductee)

Desire for sustainability in a drought prone environment was a powerful motivator for two neighbouring property owners, the Luckraft and Ellery families, to join forces in 2000 and change the nature of their primarily pastoral operations to the diversified land management and tourism business they run today.

Bendleby Ranges is a fantastic example of an award winning, sustainable adventure tourism destination that offers both a memorable holiday experience and a natural, environmentally friendly escape. Their attention to ecological impact and land management makes Bendleby Ranges a unique operation. 

Bendleby Ranges have won the Advantage SA Sustainablilty Regional Award for three consecutive years, and have now also been inducted into the Telstra Hall of Fame.

 

StatewideSuper Tourism Award

Winner – Port Pirie Regional Tourism & Arts Centre

Port Pirie Regional Tourism & Arts Centre is a dynamic tourism facility, combining visitor in formation with family-friendly attractions.

The Centre offers a unique cultural experience to enrich the visitors’ time exploring the beautiful southern areas of the Flinders Ranges. It is home to the Port Pirie Visitor Information Centre, a nationally accredited Visitor Information Centre that provides informative local knowledge and advice.

Activities people can enjoy while in the Centre include riding the  Pirie Rail Express Miniature Railway, seeing the Pirie Model Railway, the Great White Shark Exhibition, the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery and purchasing local produce and souvenirs.

 

Adelaide Event & Exhibition Centre Youth Award

Winner – Ben James Heidrich

Ben James Heidrich, at the age of just 22, is already a business owner, entrepreneur and filmmaker.

Ben undertook a bicycle mechanic apprenticeship while attending St Mark’s College in Port Pirie, which led to him to purchase Wellington Cycle Works. He relocated the business to the Solomontown Precinct to take advantage of its proximity to the local skate park. 

Ben’s dedication to Freestyle Motocross has seen him organise local competitions, which he aims to turn in to annual events.

Ben, who has been making short films since the age of 14, has combined his loves of Freestyle Motocross and filmmaking to direct and co-produce his first feature length documentary on the lives Freestyle Motocross riders.

The film, Bikes and Broken Bones, has been very successful, winning awards at national and international film festivals.

Department of Trade and Economic Development Innovation Award

Winner - Port Vincent Progress Association

Port Vincent Progress Association was established in 1945 with the main aim of maintaining an active interest in the welfare and progress of the district and Town of Port Vincent.

The town has a history of delivering successful projects, winning over 69 awards since 1988.

2010-2011 saw a very innovative project facilitated by the Progress Association called ‘The Country Community for Climate Protection Project’. The project was innovative in the way it was implemented; it involved the purchase and installation of some of the latest technology in a small country town, along with distributing information that has changed attitudes and culture towards climate change.

Many other small towns now want to follow this example of best practice and the word will continue to spread everybody can reap the benefits of the project.