Tasmania - Telstra Australian Business Awards
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Winner of the 2008 Telstra Tasmanian Business of the Year
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises provide eco-adventure cruise experiences operating out of Bruny Island and Port Arthur. The company owners are committed to preserving the environment they work in and have recently formed the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund. This environmental fund will benefit the management and conservation of Tasmania's precious marine and coastal environments. In the 2007/2008 financial year, Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises donated a portion of the proceeds for every ticket sold to the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund, up to the amount of $40,000.
2008 Winner of the Palm Micro-Business Award
The Maria Island Walk
The Maria Island Walk is an environmentally sensitive, four day guided walk on Maria Island National Park, off Tasmania's east coast. Established in 2002, this environmentally friendly walk explores the history, wildlife and tranquil beaches of the uninhabited island. The tour facilitates small groups of eight guests and two guides to enjoy low-impact walking, fine dining and eco-friendly accommodation on the island. The walk starts and finishes in Hobart and involves staying in two wilderness camps and then a final night in the heritage-listed Bernacchi House in the convict settlement of Darlington.
2008 Winner of the MYOB Small Business Award
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises provide eco-adventure cruise experiences operating out of Bruny Island and Port Arthur. Established in 1999, Bruny Island Charters has achieved enormous success enabling it to expand its operations to include the Tasman Island Cruises in December 2007. In its first year of operation, Bruny Island Charters carried 1200 passengers; this season they had a total of 28,000 people climb on board between the two operations. The business provides passengers with an insight into the untouched ecosystems of Bruny Island and the Tasman Peninsula.
2008 Winner of the Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award
Penguin Composites
Penguin Composites manufactures a broad range of composite products for heavy industrial machinery, transport and infrastructure clients, as well as supplying products to its root business in the marine and commercial areas. Established in 1976, company's products include composite parts for underground mining machinery, components for the caravan industry, and thermal shielding for high temperature engine components. Penguin Composites offers an end to end service to minimise the client's need for external consultations, maximising time and cost efficiency, and delivering seamless project functions.
2008 Winner of the AMP Innovation Award
Penguin Composites
Penguin Composites manufactures composite products for heavy industrial machinery, transport and infrastructure clients, as well as supplying products to its root business in the marine and commercial areas. The company has developed a thermal insulating barrier shield, comprising an inner absorbent layer with a fabricated stainless steel external barrier. This heat shielded exhaust system reduces temperatures from 750oC to 60oC in its thin layering, reducing the risk of fire, personal injury, engine inefficiency and other potential hazards for operators and maintenance crews.
2008 Winner of the Sensis Social Responsibility Award
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises provide eco-adventure cruise experiences operating out of Bruny Island and Port Arthur. The company owners are committed to preserving the environment they work in and have recently formed the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund. This environmental fund will benefit the management and conservation of Tasmania's precious marine and coastal environments. In the 2007/2008 financial year, Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises donated a portion of the proceeds for every ticket sold to the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund, up to the amount of $40,000.
2007 Overall Tasmanian Winner
Irrigation Tasmania Pty Ltd
Irrigation Tasmania Pty Ltd provides a wide range of water distribution solutions across a number of industries, including agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, mining and manufacturing. Based in Somerset with a branch office in Smithton, the company was established in 1995 and develops and installs products including pumps, motors, and irrigation supplies throughout Tasmania. Irrigation Tasmania also developed Remote Start Set, a series of programmable devices to increase the efficiency of water distribution and to assist in sustainable farm management practices. Irrigation Tasmania regularly exports its products to New Zealand and has also installed products in China.
2007 Australian Government Micro-Business Award
Creative One Studio
Creative One Studio is a media production company specialising in providing business solutions. Established in 2000, Creative One Studio bought Rhythm Express Music, a business that produces customised CDs for fitness classes as well as choreographed exercise routines for fitness instructors in Australia and New Zealand. The business also provides media production services in print, web, video, audio and mobile devices. Creative One Studio has grown from a home-based business to currently employing five staff at its office premises in Hobart.
2007 MYOB Business Award
Blue Skies Dining
Blue Skies Dining is a cafe, bar and restaurant located within the historic Salamanca precinct on Hobart's waterfront. Established in 1996, Blue Skies Dining offers fresh Tasmanian produce and wine to a varied clientele, including locals, business clients, tourists and families. A private dining room caters for weddings, seminars and special events. Blue Skies Dining's menu includes light meals and snacks, lunch and dinner, with prices varied to accommodate all customers. Blue Skies Dining currently employs 20 staff, including a number of apprentice chefs who are provided with ongoing mentoring from the establishment's head chefs.
2007 Panasonic Australia Business Award
Irrigation Tasmania Pty Ltd
Irrigation Tasmania Pty Ltd provides a wide range of water distribution solutions across a number of industries, including agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, mining and manufacturing. Based in Somerset with a branch office in Smithton, the company was established in 1995 and develops and installs products including pumps, motors, and irrigation supplies throughout Tasmania. Irrigation Tasmania also developed Remote Start Set, a series of programmable devices to increase the efficiency of water distribution and to assist in sustainable farm management practices. Irrigation Tasmania regularly exports its products to New Zealand and has also installed products in China.
2007 AMP Innovation Award
Autech Software & Design
Autech Software & Design was established in Launceston in 2003 and creates visualisation software for the paint and home-wares industry. Using graphics technology to visually reproduce colour and design, Autech Software & Design's Colour Visualiser product allows paint suppliers to show their customers how a chosen paint colour will look in their own home on a computer screen, while the Home Designer software application allows customers to visualise furnishings, kitchens and floor coverings. Autech Software & Design currently exports its software to major paint industry companies and building product manufacturers in over 50 different countries around the world.
2006 Overall Tasmanian Winner
Stepping Stones Children's Services
Stepping Stones Children's Services provide childcare services for children up to 12 years. Established in 1996, the business operates nine centres across northern Tasmania. Each centre provides long day care, before school care, after school care, vacation care and play centre provision. The business also provides extensive training and subsidises additional education for staff to a Masters level. It works with local communities, parent groups, schools and government agencies to ensure a high quality of care.
Australian Government Micro-Business Award
Grindelwald Kennels & Cattery
Grindelwald Kennels & Cattery provide specialised boarding facilities for dogs and cats. The business was bought by its current owners in 2001 and offers accommodation for pets for periods ranging from overnight to 12 months. Grindelwald Kennels & Cattery provide a wide range of services including pickup and delivery, dog washing and a 24 hour veterinary service. The business is planning to expand its facilities as well as introduce a full pet grooming service.
2006 MYOB Business Award
Winemaking Tasmania Pty Ltd
Winemaking Tasmania Pty Ltd provides a specialist contract winemaking and processing operation for the Tasmanian wine industry. The business makes, bottles and packages wine for its clients, and provides contract processing services including mobile bottling, filtration, reverse osmosis and sparkling wine disgorging. Established in 2001 and located at the northern end of Cambridge Airport, the business services all grape growing areas of Tasmania.
2006 Panasonic Australia Business Award
Stepping Stones Children's Services
Stepping Stones Children's Services provide childcare services for children up to 12 years. Established in 1996, the business operates nine centres across northern Tasmania. Each centre provides long day care, before school care, after school care, vacation care and play centre provision. The business also provides extensive training and subsidises additional education for staff to a Masters level. It works with local communities, parent groups, schools and government agencies to ensure a high quality of care.
2006 Hudson Business Award
Matthews Constructions Pty Ltd
Matthews Constructions Pty Ltd provides a wide range of services to the commercial building industry. Services include civil construction, commercial building, project management, design/construct projects, joinery, architectural, specialised housing, mining capital and maintenance works. The business is located in Devonport with branches in Launceston, Rosebery and St Helens. The business employs 70 people and has customers in the tourism, hospitality, aged care and mining industries.
2006 AMP Innovation Award
Tamar River Cruises
Tamar River Cruises provide river cruises on the Tamar River and through the Tamar Valley. Established in 1996, the business has a fleet of two boats; an 1890s style riverboat called Lady Launceston and a modern Cougar Catamaran, Tamar Odyssey. Cruises offered include short cruises, dinner cruises, and wine-tasting experiences which feature informative commentary, quality food and local wines. Employing 14 staff, the business has won several Tasmanian tourism awards.