REGIONAL business were the big winners in this year’s Telstra WA business of the year awards, with four out of the five category winners from outside the metro area. The overall state winner was AVKO Mining, a Kalgoorlie-based company specialising in all aspects of underground mining, particularly shaft sinking, bulk sample excavations and ground support, as well as labour hiring and training. Eaton-based Ebiz Solutions, a MYOB software specialist that provides a range of training, consulting and support to SMEs, won the micro-business award for businesses with less than five staff. Geraldton-based marketing consultancy Market Creations was awarded the MYOB business award for business with between five and 20 employees. Other winners included Henderson’s Australian Pressure Testing Services, and Bunbury-based Imaging the South, which received the innovation award. The WA winners will now compete against other state and territory winners at the national business awards, to be held in Sydney next month.