The finalists for the 2025 Bega Valley Business Awards have been announced. There were close to 1600 nominations across 16 categories, with some categories receiving over 300 nominations.
This year’s finalists represent a broad cross-section of industries and communities across the Bega Valley, highlighting the strength, diversity, and innovation that underpin our local economy.
The towns of Bega and Pambula lead the way with 10 finalists each, showcasing strong local leadership in business. Bermagui punched well above its weight with 6 finalists, Merimbula and Eden both finished with 5 finalists, Tathra and Cobargo contributed 3 finalists each, and Tura Beach and Kalaru with 2 finalists apiece.
With businesses nominated across key sectors including hospitality, retail, tourism, health and wellness, professional services, and community leadership, the finalists reflect the incredible depth of talent and passion within the Bega Valley. The awards not only celebrate individual excellence but also shine a spotlight on the collective achievements of our thriving regional business community.
President of the Bega Valley Business Forum Nigel Ayling said, “Once again, we have been really pleased with the response and it was great to see a lot of businesses being nominated for the first time. This year we have added some new categories and we received strong nominations for those categories which is great. Some people assume that it is a popularity contest where the business with the most nominations wins, but it is far from it. There are a number of criteria we take into account when determining the finalists, and the number of nominations are just one of them. The judges read through the reason for every nomination and score them, as well as doing research into the business and checking their online presences and reviews. There are also weighting factors like their location, and whether they have been nominated or won awards previously. It can be really hard work narrowing some categories down to just 3 finalists, so the ones that have made it this far, really deserve to be there. “
The full list of finalists are;
Excellence in Retail
- Ocean People – Bermagui
- Eden Antiques and Collectables
- Swannies – Merimbula
Excellence in Hospitality
- Eastwoods – Bermagui
- Toast – Pambula
- Wild Orchard – Tathra
Excellence in Health, Beauty and Wellness
- Hair on Imlay – Eden
- Skin Bar 2.0 – Tura Beach
- Tathra Beach Personal Training Studio
Excellence in Construction, Trades and Services
- Eastman Electrical – Bega
- Pambula Tiles
- Tomi’s Bobcat and Excavation – Pambula
Excellence in Professional Services
- Bermagui Veterinary Clinic
- Clark Rideaux Solicitors – Bega
- Sautelle White Lawyers – Merimbula
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
- Cheryl’s Support Services – Bega
- Cafe Beyond – Bega
- Workability – Bega
Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
- Bandicoot Pottery – Cobargo
- Longstocking Brewery – Pambula
- Tathra Beach Eco Camp
Excellence in Micro Business
- Camel Rock Surf School – Bermagui
- Darcie Nicol Floral Designs – Bega
- The Makers Room – Eden
Excellence in Small Business
- Eastwoods – Bermagui
- Nine Circles Distillery – Pambula
- The Picture Showman – Merimbula
Excellence in Large Business
- IRT – Merimbula
- Staffords Group – Kalaru
- Tura Beach Country Club
Employer of Choice
- Nine Circles Distillery – Pambula
- TA Project Services – Bega
- Toast – Pambula and Eden
Outstanding Community Organisation
- Cobargo Community Development Corporation Limited
- Grow the Future – Bega
- Sapphire Life Opportunities – Merimbula
Outstanding Visitor Experience -Tourism
- Aqua – Pambula
- Great Southern Trike Tours – Eden
- Longstocking Brewery – Pambula
Outstanding Employee
- Neal Brown – Staffords – Kalaru
- Paddy Elliot – Cobargo Pub
- Xavier Kember – Grow the Future – Bega
Outstanding Young Business Leader
- Callum Champagne – Grow the Future
- Kristy Furbank – Camel Rock Surf School
- Cooper Coathup – Nine Circles Distillery – Pambula
Outstanding Business Leader
- Ann-Maree Hindson – IRT Merimbula
- Cat Coathup – Nine Circles Distillery – Pambula
- Nicky Austin – Toast – Pambula and Eden
Finalists will now be invited to make their own submissions which will be a series of questions relevant to their category, and they will have to demonstrate why they are worthy of winning the award. This new formal process replaces the popular vote used in the past to determine winners, and places more emphasis on the high standards that are required to win an award.
Each finalist will be contacted and asked to make their submissions before June 27. Their submissions will be judged for the local awards, but will also double as a submission for the Far South Coast Business Awards which will be judged on the 5th of September after the local awards.
Finalists will also be visited by local photographer Robert Hason to collect their photos for the event.
The Bega Valley Business awards night is on Saturday 26 July at Club Sapphire and it will have a festive theme. Tickets for finalists go on sale from July 1 with sales limited to 4 tickets per finalists, and any remaining tickets will go on sale from July 7.
For more information go to www.begavalleybusiness.com.au