THERE was an emotional finish to the Bass Coast Business Awards on Friday night when relative newcomers, Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage at Glen Forbes, walked away with top honours.

While owner-operator Jenni Lewandowski was brought to tears at the announcement, her partner Dean was rendered speechless when they emerged as the 2023 Bass Coast Business of the Year against stiff competition from the likes of 2022 winner Wildlife Coast Cruises.

“We’re ecstatic, we never expected to win it,” said Jenni Lewandowski.

“It’s an absolute honour.”

Established at the gateway to Bass Coast in 2017, and building up to more than 200 caravans and boats on site at any one time, their secret to success is simple – it’s all about personal service.

“Dean and I take it right back to the basics. We meet everyone at the gate when they arrive. I regularly talk to our customers, and I have all their names and numbers on my phone.

“I know them, and their families and we know when they take their holidays. We know what they need.”

Having built their business up to capacity, Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage is ready to grow again with an expansion project.

The annual awards night was held at the magnificent Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club, perched above the spectacular ocean vistas of Bunurong Marine National Park.

The night opened with a Welcome to Country by the Bunurong Land Council's Mark Brown, followed by Bass Coast Mayor Cr Michael Whelan who congratulated the firms who had put themselves out there to not only win an award but also the benefit from sharing and networking.

One of the highlights of the evening was the overwhelming response to the People's Choice Awards categories. This year, the program received a staggering 2300 votes, nearly doubling last year's count. The community's increasing involvement in celebrating local businesses in the region is heartening, according to the Council which  extended its gratitude to all those who participated.

“We thank all 54 applications were submitted entries from businesses across diverse sectors, including construction, hair and beauty, health, hospitality, manufacturing, the visitor economy, retail, and professional services. Among these, 35 businesses applied for the awards, and we were thrilled to welcome 25 first-time applicants who took their place on the stage of recognition,” said the council in a statement about this year’s awards.

The judging panel for this year's awards was comprised of six industry professionals who generously volunteered their time to support the Business Awards.

The panel included:

* Kim Story, Destination Phillip Island

* Andrea Evans-McCall, Countries University Centre

* Rebecca Massaro, Interchange Gippsland

* Heidi Hamm, Sustainability Victoria

* Melissa Cashman, Phillip Island Nature Parks

* Jennifer Carroll, GoTo Solutions

The Bass Coast Council also thanked the award sponsors including:

* Harman Wines (Business of the Year)

* Interchange Gippsland (Access, Equity and Inclusion)

* Corio Generation (Business Innovation)

* Westernport Water (Environmental Sustainability)

* rEVENTS Academy (Event Excellence)

* Destination Phillip Island (Marketing and Communications)

* Small Business Mentoring Service (Resilience)

* Food and Fibre Gippsland (Celebration Night)

* nbn Local (Photography)

The 2023 Bass Coast Shire Council Business Awards were a resounding success, celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of local business.

The Council said it was proud to support and promote these exceptional enterprises, and looks forward to seeing them continue to thrive and contribute to the vibrancy of the community.

Results

Business of the Year winner – Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage

Comments from the judges: “Excellent submission”. Research, planning, and education is key to delivering a new product. Good use of statistics and excellent supporting documents”.

Winner and runners-up list:

Judged Category Awards:

• Access, Equity and Inclusion (sponsored by Interchange Gippsland). Brinnie T Design winner, YES Youth Hub runner-up
• Business Innovation (sponsored by Corio Generation). TerraLab winner, Wonthaggi Allied Health Centre runner-up.
• Environmental Sustainability (sponsored by Westernport Water). Wildlife Coast Cruises winner, Bass Strait Direct runner-up
• Event Excellence (sponsored by rEVENTS Academy). NYE on the Hill winner, Bass Coast Cycle Challenge runner-up.
• Marketing and Communications (sponsored by Destination Phillip Island). Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage winner, San Remo Hotel runner-up.
• Resilience Award (sponsored by Small Business Mentoring Service). Wonthaggi Allied Health Centre winner, Remo Hotel runner-up.
• Business of the Year (sponsored by Harman Wines). Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage.

People’s Choice Awards (sponsored by Bass Coast Shire Council).

• Accommodation and Tourism Attraction Anchor Belle Holiday Park winner, NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park runner-up.
• Food and Beverage, Harman Wines winner, Merindah Hill Farm runner-up
• Hair and Beauty, her. Skin & Day Spa winner, Hair by Sarah Azzato runner-up.
• Health and Lifestyle, Wonthaggi Allied Health Centre winner, Balance Health Phillip Island runner-up.
• Online, Mobile and Home-based Business, We Are Phillip Island winner, Patricia Jamieson Celebrant runner-up.
• Retail and Services, Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage winner, San Remo Butchers runner-up.
• Trade, Rotaret Hydraulic Engineering winner, Bass Coast Plastering runner-up.