FINALISTS for the highly anticipated Southern Grampians Shire Council 2022 Business Awards have been revealed.

Hosted at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre (HPAC), the awards event is scheduled for Friday, September 9, 2022, and is expected to be quite the enjoyable evening celebrating local achievement with dinner, drinks, and live entertainment throughout the evening.

Businesses from the tourism, retail, trades, agriculture, professional service, and other sectors are among those named as finalists, with Southern Grampians Shire Council mayor, Cr Bruach Colliton, impressed with the quality of applications submitted.

“We are honoured to have such a diverse group of entrants this year who exemplify the unique local business community we have here in the Southern Grampians Shire,” he said.

“The commitment our region’s businesses have to providing quality services and products to our community and contributing to our local economy is something they should be really proud of and importantly, should be celebrated.”

The 2022 Business Awards finalists include: Brown Street Dental; Cemac Enterprises; Clarrie the Cobbler; Cutting Edge Mower & Moto; Hamilton District Skills Centre; Hamilton Medical Group; LJ’s Pizza & Takeaway Foods; Mulleraterong Centre Incorporated; Nigretta of Hamilton; Petschel House; Precision Waterjet; Shattered Phone and PC Repairs; Tahlia’s Beautyworx; The Hamilton Hamper; The Hive Drive Thru; Wicked Wildlife; Coleraine & District Financial Services Ltd; Grange Garlic; Penshurst Store; and Tarrington Wellbeing Centre.

Employee of the Year finalists are Emily O’Brien (ANZ Hamilton); Anthony Ung (Mulleraterong Centre Incorporated); and Clare McKay (Cox Street Vets).

The judging of applications was undertaken last month by independent judge, Kevin Bennet, from KB solutions.

The evening will be hosted by Kristen Diprose, who is a former ABC journalist and presenter, with live music featuring throughout the evening by local performers, the Bar Trio.

Council acknowledges and welcomes the generous sponsors of the event; The Hamilton Spectator, Ace Radio, Australian Bluegum Plantations, Bendigo Bank, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Hamilton Regional Business Association, Iluka, Sinclair Wilson, South West TAFE, and WDEA Works.

Tickets for the event, which include dinner, beverages, and live performances from local talent, are now on sale and can be purchased by going online to the HPAC website at tickets.hamiltonpac.com.au or by contacting the HPAC box office.