1st Generation Finalists

Airefrig Australia

Bill Treby started in the refrigeration business by serving a fitter’s apprenticeship under the guidance of his father. In 1970, Mr Treby and his wife, Waverley, established a refrigerator supply store that was then known as ‘Airefrig Supplies’. More than 35 years later the business has an annual turnover of $40 million and employs 91 staff in nine branch offices across the country. The Trebys’ two daughters have carried on the tradition by working in the family business.

Messages on Hold

Messages on Hold was founded in 1988 by Kym Illman, who hired his first employee, Tonya, in 1990, and married her five years later.

Messages on Hold specialises in the creation of promotional audio productions for telephone and the Internet, and has won many awards, including the WA Telstra Small Business Award.

The company has enhanced the phone image of more than 9,000 organisations in 14 countries, and today employs 55 full-time and 35 casual and part-time staff.

Morrison

Husband and wife proprietors Richard and Kylie Paulson started retail operation Morrison in 2002.

The store specialises in the sale of bodycare, underwear, giftware and jewellery, and was the launching pad for the development of a wholesale clothing label of the same name.

The clothing label is now available at more than 100 boutiques nationally and overseas. Morrison recently opened another store, Mini Morri, which employs the same successful formula to the needs of children.