Port Augusta’s arts, tourism, sporting and community groups were among the winners at this year’s Business SA Far North Regional Awards.
Cinema Augusta, Port Augusta Men’s Shed, the Port Augusta Cultural Centre – Yarta Purtli, promising young sportswoman Laura Packard and volunteers Neil Edwards and Paula Crombie were among those presented with the coveted ‘pears’ at a ceremony at the Standpipe Golf Motor Inn last week.
Port Augusta Men’s Shed was awarded the Westpac Community Group Award for providing a unique service and support for men.
Noted for its role in the documentary film ‘Big Stories Small Towns’, the Men’s Shed has delivered handcrafted wooden goods to schools, nursing homes and the Port Augusta Courthouse in the past year.
Described as “honest and reliable”, Men’s Shed program coordinator, Neil Edwards, received an individual commendation for his commitment to the shed.
Paula Crombie was awarded the Westpac Community Individual Award for her voluntary role with five different programs over the past 14 years, including the Early Years Parenting Centre.
Applauded for her proactive attitude and positive nature, her work was credited as instrumental to the ongoing support for young families and new families in the city.
For their commitment to providing quality entertainment, Cinema Augusta’s Michelle and Roger Coles were awarded the Australia Post Small Business Award.
Adding to their win at this year’s Business Port Augusta awards, the Coles were congratulated for embracing new technology – they were the first in the state to provide live satellite concerts and operas - and for their constant fundraising efforts and community work within Port Augusta.
Laura Packard was presented with the Nippy’s Sport Award for her achievements representing Port Augusta and South Australian in basketball and netball.
Labelled a “true ambassador for her region and in the State”, her achievements include representing South Australia in the Under 18 National Basketball Championships, winning various local sporting accolades and being selected in the Australian Squad to attend the Australia Institute of Sport having impressively representing the South Australian State Netball Team in the National Championships in April this year.
The Port Augusta Cultural Centre – Yarta Purtli was awarded the ETSA Utilities Arts Award.
It was another accolade for the centre which received a coveted Ruby award earlier this year for last year’s Port Augusta Re-Imagines! festival.
Centre spokeswoman Tina Dunneman said the SA Great regional award recognised the newly developed centre as a hub for arts and culture in the city and the region, supporting and encouraging community and individual participation.
“It’s a big thankyou to all the people that put in so much work … the community, the staff, Country Arts SA and the Port Augusta City Council,” she said.
In presenting the awards SA Great’s operations director Nikki Hamdorf said the winners represented a great level of success in the region.
“We’re all seeing how important it is to the state. There is a lot of community stuff going on that is going on under the radar that people need to know about,” she said.
Winners from Roxby Downs, Andamooka, Whyalla and Coober Pedy were also named on the night.
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