After winning different categories in previous years, SPAR Supermarket beat the largest field of finalists in the history of the Daroos to take out the coveted major award.

Representing owners Peter Crich and Patrick Brennan, the supermarket’s manager Debbie Gant accepted the trophy from Cabonne Mayor Kevin Beatty and the NSW Government’s Executive Director of Regional Development Jane Spring at a glittering dinner at Yeoval Memorial Hall.

Belinda Thurtell from accountancy firm Yates Baker McLean was named Employee of the Year while the Apprentice/Trainee of the Year award went to Tara Walker, from Cudal Community Children’s Centre.

Awards chairman and Executive Officer of Central NSW Business HQ Bruce Buchanan said the Daroos continued to go from strength-to-strength, with a record field of finalists this year and a sell-out crowd of 250 people attending the presentation dinner – the largest in the 18-year history of the awards.

Mr Buchanan said voting in a number of categories was also the closest on record, with two highly commended trophies being presented in several categories for the first time.

“In one category only one vote separated the three top finalists,” he said.

The full list of 2017 Cabonne Daroo Business Award winners is as follows:

Best New Business

Timber Tales - Winner

MBC Molong  Highly Commended

Studio 1991– Highly Commended

Best Ongoing Business

Cargo Store - Winner

Eugowra Newsagency & Supermarket – Highly Commended

Best Home-Based Business

Greenwood Designs - Winner

Leanne Pearce Dogwash – Highly Commended

Excellence in Hospitality

Molong Bakery - Winner

Excellence in Accommodation

Old School House Molong - Winner

Excellence in Marketing, Advertising & Communication

Canowindra Phoenix - Winner

Excellence in Tourism

Adloyalty Discover the Riches Campaign - Winner

Coco Harvest – Highly Commended

Excellence in Environmental Enhancement

Heifer Station Wines - Winner

Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture

Ag N Vet Cumnock - Winner

Rosnay Organics – Highly Commended

Excellence in Service Operations – Small Entity

Cumnock General Store – Winner

Clearwater Tanks - Highly Commended

Excellence in Service Operations – Large Entity

MSM Milling -Winner

Molong Health One – Highly Commended

Molong Pharmacy – Highly Commended

Contribution to Cabonne – Community Organisation

Long White Lunch - Winner

UPA Yeoval – Highly Commended

Contribution to Cabonne – Business

Canowindra Balloon Challenge - Winner

Ag N Vet Yeoval – Highly Commended

Business Fostering Disability Inclusion

Fencing 1 - Winner

Employee of the Year

Belinda Thurtell, YBM - Winner

Apprentice / Trainee of the Year

Tara Walker, Cudal Community Children’s Centre - Winner

Best Business in Cabonne

SPAR Supermarket Molong - Winner