The list of finalists is more than 60 greater than last year, which was also a record, making competition stronger than ever when the awards are presented at a gala dinner at Yeoval on Friday, November 3, 2017.

Cabonne Mayor Kevin Beatty said the Daroos put the spotlight on Cabonne businesses and organisations that demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their service or management.

“The profile of the awards has grown substantially since their inception in 2000 and they are now regarded as one of the major events on the regional business calendar,” he said.

“I can assure you they are highly sought by a range of businesses, organisations and individuals throughout Cabonne, as evidenced by the record number of nominations and finalists this year.”

Awards chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Central NSW Business HQ, Bruce Buchanan, said the Daroos had become the template for similar events in smaller regional areas.

“The awards introduced a new category this year for business fostering disability inclusion and I am delighted five finalists will be vying for this inaugural award,” Mr Buchanan said.

Tickets are selling fast for the presentation dinner at the Yeoval Memorial Hall.

They can be purchased online for $66 each by going to the awards website www.daroobusinessawards.com.au, visiting Cabonne Council’s website www.cabonne.nsw.gov.au or going to www.trybooking.com and typing in 2017 Daroo Business Awards.

The following finalists have been announced for the 2017 awards:

Best New Business

Timber Tales Coffee

MBC Molong

Studio 1991

QT Beauty

Booful Gifts & Homeware

Capped Cakes Cumnock

On The Grime Cleaning

Frock On

Canowindra Creative Centre

Best Ongoing Business

Cargo Store

Cumnock General Store

Eugowra Newsagency & Supermarket

Manildra Store (Coffee on Kiewa)

Minna-Murra Building Supplies

Molong Newsagency

Molong Ready-Mix Concrete

Molong Tyre & Mechanical

PCW Construction

Porch’s Preg Testing

Taste Canowindra

YBM

Billabong Takeaway

Royal Hotel Yeoval

Best Home-Based Business

Greenwood Designs

Meeraboo Candles

B&C Roberts Rural Contracting

Flowers by Kerry

Louie Lee

Country Designs

Scrapbox Designs

Leanne Pearce Dogwash

Beauty by Andrea

Robert Radburn Mobile Mechanical Repairs

Excellence in Hospitality

Molong Bakery

Freemasons Hotel

Molong BP

Sweetness Your Lolly Shop

Be Tempted

Manildra Bowling Club

Delice Coffee

Soldiers on Riddell Bistro

Cargo Inn

Gift & Homeware House

Excellence in Accommodation

Grantham House

Molong Caravan Park

Montrose House

Old Redbank Cottage

Old School House

Riverview Motel

Royal Hotel Yeoval

Excellence in Marketing, Advertising & Communication

Canowindra Phoenix

Adloyalty

Molong Online

Manildra Matteres

Banjo Paterson Museum

Cumnock Progress Review, Kirsten Holman

First National Real Estate

Excellence in Tourism

Age of Fishes Museum

Adloyalty Discover Me Riches Campaign

Hillside Harvest

AMUSU Theatre

Banjo Paterson Museum

Balloon Joy Flights

Coco Harvest

Excellence in Environmental Enhancement

Heifer Station Wines

Age of Fishes Museum

Hillside Harvest

Banjo Paterson Museum

DoLittle Farm

Little River Landcare

Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture

Ag N Vet Cumnock

Agwise Cudal

BRALCA

Cumulus Vineyard

JAD Agriculture

GJ Gibson Fencing

Carbeen Pastured Produce

Rosnay Organics

Rural Centre Molong

Wallington Wines

Ag N Vet Yeoval

MAKAG

Excellence in Service Operations – Small Entity

Clearwater Tanks

Coco Harvest

Cumnock General Store

Fencing 1

Gaskill Greens

Hillside Harvest

Magic’s Meats

John’s Fruitful Pruning

Molong Massage

Molong Newsagency

Molong Post Office

J&K Christie Mechanical Repairs

GJ Gibson Fencing

Excellence in Service Operations – Large Entity

Canowindra Pre-School & Kindergarten

Lawrence’s IGA (Canowindra)

Molong Early Learning Centre

Molong Health One

Molong Pharmacy

MSM Milling

YBM Molong

Contribution to Cabonne – Community Organisation

Long White Lunch

Molong Advancement Group

Canowindra Pre-School & Kindergarten

Molong CWA

Molong Hockey Club

Manildra First Responders

CWA Canowindra

Cargo Men’s Shed

Yeoval Show Society

Cumnock Progress Association

Manildra Men’s Shed

Canowindra Challenge Inc

Canowindra Golf Club

Canowindra Creative Centre

HACC Canowindra

Yeoval Rugby Club

Yeoval Red Cross Shop

Contribution to Cabonne – Business

Canowindra Balloon Challenge

Hillside Harvest

Cumnock General Store

MSM Milling

Adloyalty

Cargo Store

Ag N Vet Yeoval

Acacia Lodge

Business Fostering Disability Inclusion

Canowindra Creative Centre

Delice Coffee

Fencing 1

First National Real Estate

Ag N Vet Yeoval

Employee of the Year

Tracey Potts – Little river Landcare

Elise Heath – YBM

Roslyn Pickford  - UPA

Belinda Thurtell – YBM

Nathan Morley Clarke – PCW Constructions

Roselea Buttigieg – Canowindra Phoenix

Abby Sands – YBM

Andrew Harper – Spar Supermarket

Emma Harbison – First National Molong

Tori Wood – Molong Bakery

Paula Roberts – Molong Bakery

Richelle Mills – Cabonne Council

Kaushal Pathirana – MSM Milling

Apprentice / Trainee of the Year

Katelyn Watts – Cabonne Council

Tara Walker – Cudal Community Children’s Centre

Jesse Fulwood – Molong Early Learning Centre

Hayden Watts – Cabonne Council

Best Business in Cabonne

Minna Murra Building Suppliers – Molong

YBM – Molong

AdLoyalty – Canowindra

Canowindra Phoenix

SPAR Supermarket – Molong

Molong Bakery