Great Southern takes top prize at Telstra awards

Boutique distillery Great Southern Distilling Company has been crowned this year’s Telstra Western Australian Business of the Year.

At an awards ceremony held at Crown Perth on Friday night, Great Southern was the top prize winner in the small business category, before going on to be named the overall winner of the night.

Great Southern, which was also the top winner in the small business category in 2015, operates out of its three cellar doors in Albany, Margaret River and Porongurup, and has achieved fame for a number of its products, including the Limeburners and Tiger Snake labels.

“Customers want top quality, Australian-made products with real country provenance,” founder Cameron Syme said.

“We solve that problem, distilling internationally award-winning whiskies, gins and liqueurs using the best home-grown Western Australian products.”

Red Dirt Transport Services took home the New Business Award, while storytelling and digital marketing training business Hancock Creative was the top prize winner in the micro business category.

Shalom House, a men’s rehabilitation centre, received the Charity Award, while the Medium Business Award went to wear plate manufacturer Enduraclad International.

Enduraclad managing director Jason Kell said the win was testament to his team of people, who are based at the company’s two sites in Henderson and Rockingham.

“Each team member has contributed to Enduraclad’s success – they are all well deserving recipients of this award,” he said.

“When I started this company six years ago it was the people around me who ensured it got to the point where it is today – Australia’s fastest growing supplier and producer of wear plate materials.”

Telstra small business executive director Brendan Donohoe said the WA winners were all underpinned by strong leadership teams who have recognised the importance of leveraging technology to successfully engage staff and drive business growth.

“For Great Southern Distilling Company, their team spirit and ambition to excel has undoubtedly enabled the business to emerge as a powerful force to be reckoned with in its highly competitive industry,” he said.

“Representing both WA and Australia on the global stage, this small business has proven they are a cut above the rest and are more than capable of taking on major spirit houses from established regions like Scotland and the USA.”

The WA category winners will join other state and territory winners at the national awards, which will be held in Sydney next month.