LEETON shire businesses have exceeded expectation at the Murray-Riverina Business Awards, producing winners in four of the 12 categories.
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The second annual awards were presented on Friday night at a gala dinner, with winners selected from 64 finalists from across the region.
Hosted by the Murray-Riverina NSW Business Chamber, more than 190 people were in attendance and kept entertained by MC Tim Campbell.
The evening started well for Leeton, with Sauce Communications director Liane Sayer-Roberts (business leader) and Leeton Veterinary Hospital (excellence in business ethics) inducted as members of the Riverina awards alumni as finalists at the 2013 state awards.
However as the night progressed, the news got better as McDonald's Leeton franchisee Brad Carroll was named joint winner of the young business executive (18-35 years) award, Sauce Communications won excellence in small business, Southern Cotton received the excellence in innovation acknowledgement and Grain Link was named a joint winner of excellence in business.
SunRice was also a joint winner of the export award for its Deniliquin mill.
Mr Carroll said receiving the award was an honour and paid tribute to his wife Kate, his staff and customers.
"This is to all our customers in Leeton and Temora," he said.
"We are a people business. Without my staff, without the customers, I wouldn't be standing here right now."
Mrs Sayer-Roberts admitted she came prepared with a speech this year after being caught unawares in 2013.
"I am absolutely delighted and humbled to receive this award," she said.
"It belongs to the Sauce team of 13 consultants. We are the only agency with a head office in the bush and we wouldn't have it any other way."
Grain Link managing director Paul Pearsall was also full of praise for those he works with and paid tribute to a former employee, Ben Groat, who passed away last year.
"If you don't have a good team, it doesn't work," Mr Persall said.
"I'd like to dedicate this to some really good guys. A lot of what we have achieved would not be possible without (Mr Groat's) efforts.
"I'd also like to thank all the wives."
Southern Cotton general manager Kate O'Callaghan said being recognised for innovation was particularly important for the company.
"This award is a credit to the tenacity and push of the directors, but also the dedication and long hours of the management team," she said.
"We have put their heart and soul into this business and we're proud of our innovation. In just three years we're pushing the boundaries of excellence."
While the SunRice award was attributed to the Deniliquin mill, a spokesman for the Leeton-based business said the export award acknowledged all the growers, employees and surrounding communities.
"Today, SunRice exports around 80 per cent of the annual Australian crop, with an export value of more than $440 million," the spokesman said.
"There is much opportunity for SunRice to further strengthen its position in global markets and we are calling on all growers to make rice their first choice summer crop this coming season as we look to increase our annual planting base to 950,000 tonnes."
Leeton Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Maryann Vitelli was unable to attend the evening, but congratulated her winning members.
"It is a huge honour to be recognised not only in your local community, but over and above all in the Riverina region," Miss Vitelli said.
"This is testament to the benchmark of industry organisations and businesses supporting the Leeton community and another positive reflection for community that things are not always doom and gloom."
Murray-Riverina NSW Business Chamber regional manager Ben Foley congratulated all the winners, who will represent Murray-Riverina at the State Business Awards on November 28.
"History has revealed that we punch above our weight at the state level and I am extremely excited about the prospects of doing so again based upon the calibre of the organisations that will be representing our region," Mr Foley said.
"I congratulate the winners and finalists. The first step was to put their hand up to be included in the process and, regardless of actually winning a category, all finalists should be very proud of making it to this stage."