TICKETS are now available for the highly anticipated 2022 Southern Grampians Shire Council Business Awards ceremony and dinner which will be held on Friday, September 9.

Specialist, Kevin Bennett, will meet with nominating businesses to select this year’s finalists between August 15-19, with entries coming from a wide range of sectors including retail, trade, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Southern Grampians Shire Council acting mayor, Cr David Robertson, said it was encouraging to see an increase in nominations after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

“We are incredibly excited with the quality and number of applications received for the 2022 Southern Grampians Shire Council Business Awards,” he said.

“To see many of the entries are first-time applicants, really demonstrates the importance of our local awards program and strength of businesses within our region.

“The Awards are one of my favourite events on the business calendar as they provide locals with an all-important opportunity to celebrate business achievements and recognise some of the people who make a difference in our business and everyday community.”

The Awards celebration will provide winners, finalists and businesses with the opportunity to network, and meet communications professional, content producer and journalist, Kirsten Diprose, who will host the evening’s proceedings.

Ms Diprose was a journalist at the ABC and fortnightly presenter on ABC Melbourne’s ‘Conversation Hour’.

She is a Deakin University Research Fellow and PhD candidate, an Associate Knowledge Broker for the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, and the co-host of the ‘Ducks on the Pond’ podcast, which shares stories of rural women across Australia.

Cr Robertson said he hoped to see many local faces supporting our much-loved businesses at the Awards ceremony on September 9.

“I encourage everyone in the business community to attend the Awards ceremony to show support and celebrate our winners,” he said.

“The local business sector contributes considerably to our community’s economic and social wellbeing, and the evening is always a memorable occasion to honour what it means to be counted among the region’s ‘best of the best’.”

The Southern Grampians Shire Council welcomes and recognises returning and new sponsors for the event, as well as media partners the Hamilton Spectator and ACE Radio

Tickets for the Southern Grampians Shire Council Business Awards ceremony and dinner can be purchased from the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre for $65 per person.