On Friday October 15th, in the Rotary month of Vocational Service, the Rotary Club of Yarrawonga Mulwala hosted the prestigious Business Excellence Awards in Yarrawonga for the fifth year. This event is held in conjunction with the Shire of Moira but is totally organized in Yarrawonga & Mulwala by the Rotary Club.

The event seeks to recognize and celebrate excellence in eight categories:

	Customer Service
	Retail Excellence
	Business Excellence (Privately Owned)
	Business Excellence (Corporate, Semi Government & Non Profit)
	Tourism / Hospitality
	Industrial / Agriculture
	Environmental Excellence
	Apprentice or Trainee of the Year

Entry forms are delivered to every business in the town and a follow up visit by a Rotarian ensures over 50 entries with over 70 nominations. While the nominations for Customer service come from members of the public, businesses are encouraged to make the entries themselves and many comment that it provides them with a tool to review their business practice at the same time.

Sponsorship comes from many businesses - Gold Sponsors and Silver Sponsors are given signage on the entry forms, certificates, advertising and on the night they are presenters of various awards.

The Shire assists by arranging for independent Judges who read the nominations and visit and talk with a short list of contenders. The Customer Service Award is judged by a "Mystery Shoppervisit. This method of judging ensures impartiality and is an important part of the Awards' success.

The evening is held in the form of a Cocktail Party and while every nominee is given 2 free tickets, many other tickets to the event are sold. This year, as in past years, a crowd of over 250 gathered and again it was pleasing to see many young people there and to see local business people networking and enjoying each other's company, even after the event is officially over.

Prizes in each category are given for 1st, 2nd & 3rd and every nominee is given a framed certificate, while the 1st Prize Winner also receives a trophy and a sticker for the business's window. The winners of the Customer Service each receives vouchers to spend at any business in the Town and the Apprentices receive a cash prize to be spent in furthering her or his career.
Each of the Category winners is automatically entered into the Shire Business Excellence Awards and is then judged against the winners from the other four major towns in the shire - Nathalia, Numurkah and Cobram - to find an overall winner.

Later next year, the Yarrawonga Winners and Sponsors will be invited to an "Open to the Public Rotary meeting - who knows how many potential members we may find!

Long live Business Excellence in Yarrawonga & Mulwala