SMALL business teams across Glasshouse Country, Woodford and the Blackall Ranges have celebrated their entrepreneurial success at the annual Glassies awards last week.
The initiative of Glasshouse MP, Andrew Powell MP, the 2023 Glassies brought together almost 150 small business owners and employees as well as the local Chambers of Commerce to celebrate all that small business is and does for the region.
“It was a packed house and I think that goes to show how much our communities love their small and family businesses,” said Mr Powell. “With so many businesses and employees nominated, and the gala gaining more recognition each year, I think we might just have to find a bigger venue next year!”
Glass House locals cast an extraordinary number of votes, nearly 5,000 all up, for the nominated businesses and employees – more than Mr Powell has ever received before.
Gold Glassie winner, Tamara Hazelden, said she was speechless after being awarded the top prize.
“With all these amazing businesses I genuinely did not think I would win,” Tamara said.
“But it’s a great feeling and great recognition of all the amazing work my team does every day.”
The coveted Gold Glassies are handpicked by Andrew in consultation with the Chamber presidents.
While the silver “Glassy” is purely a popularity contest based on the number of votes received, the bronze “Glassies” are selected by local the Chamber of Commerce Presidents. “It is always difficult to choose the bronze and gold winners due to the quantity and quality of entries, and we deliberate over the options for a long time before selecting the winners.”
Andrew introduced a “Hall of Fame” category in 2023, to acknowledge certain businesses and employees who have nominated almost every year since the Awards inception and have won a Glassy or two.
This year’s winners included Maple St Co-op and Mountain View Pet Retreat.
Glass House Country winners
• Bronze Business: The Local Beerwah
• Silver Business: Mooloolah Newsagency
• Bronze Employee: Lizzie Vaughan from
All About Autism
• Silver Employee: Natalie Lelievre from
Mooloolah Newsagency
Maleny winners
• Bronze Business: Rosetta Books
• Silver Business: Maleny Jewellers
• Bronze Employee: Jennepher Bucher
from Maleny Cheese
• Silver Employee: Elaine Haggerty from
Beyond Words Therapy Centre
Gold winners
• Business: Tamara Hazelden Real Estate
• Employee: Jim Goulton from Maleny
Jewellers
Moreton Bay winners
• Bronze Business: Woodfit
• Silver Business: Red Fox Orchids
• Bronze Employee: Taylor Wenham from Sunnydaze Wellness
• Silver Employee: TIE between Cheryl Grant from Rayview Produce and Jasmine Brown from the Woodford Hotel
Montville winners
• Bronze Business: Tina Cooper Glass Gallery
• Silver Business: Crystal Multiverse
• Bronze Employee: Eliza Claridge from
The Barn on Flaxton
• Silver Employee: Serge Doumergue from
Crystal Multiverse
Hall of Fame inductees:
• Maple Street Co-op
• Mountain View Pet Retreat
• Ledgers Country Butchery
• VIP Wildlife
• Sharon Schofield from Easton Lawyers
• Jodie Pember from White’s IGA Mooloolah