Shining example

Kristen Dennis is pictured with Attorney General Nicola Roxon and her Shine On Award.

In a moving and meaningful ceremony held earlier this month, outstanding community members with disabilities were awarded Shine On Awards by Attorney General Nicola Roxon at the Yarraville RSL Club (hosted by the Rotary Club of Yarraville). 

Awardees are people who have shown an active involvement in community service for the benefit of others and to have achieved at a significant level, while managing a specific medical or disability.

The Rotary Club of Kyneton nominated Kristen Dennis of Castlemaine. 

"Kristen has worked in Kyneton and Castlemaine Copy Centres (projects of Windarring) for over 10 years," Kyneton Rotary past president, John Condliffe said.

"She has been a very reliable worker and is now a leading hand. She has attained independent living status living by herself in Castlemaine. She helps her grandmother, has attained her licence and helps out on a horse riding ranch."

Kristen was awarded her Certificate of Commendation by Nicola Roxon and Rotary District Governor, Dennis Shore. 

John Condliffe was her escort for the day.

"The award ceremony was a very humbling experience for those privileged to attend and witness the many achievements and projects the awardees were involved in despite the hurdles they had to overcome," John said.

"The awardees seemed to benefit and be very excited about the recognition and awards. Kristen certainly was."

Small business champions! - Country Cob Bakery wins out

Country Cob Bakery's Ben Hall, Mason Cumisky, Kate Neale, Declan Neale, Paige Brock and Bec Sawyer celebrate the bakery's win at the Australian Small Business Champion Awards last Saturday.

Kyneton's Country Cob Bakery was named Champion Bakery/Cake Store at the Australian Small Business Champion Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony, held at The Westin Sydney on Saturday.

With about 900 guests in attendance, 39 small business categories, including two entrepreneur categories and one business growth category, were presented on the night. Award recipients demonstrated the strength of the Australian small business community during challenging economic times. 

Country Cob owners, Kate and Declan Neale, told the Guardian they were thrilled to have been recognised for their hard work and achievements in their industry over the past 12 months.

"We are bursting at the seems with excitement, our hard work has paid off with the early mornings and late nights," Kate said.

"We are stoked for the customers who have supported us, they are the reason that we are here 20 years later, it is great that they continue to support local businesses.

"Among the thousands of entries from all across Australia, our dedication to business excellence, our team of staff, customer service, suppliers, the local community and environmental sustainability has shone through and seen us victorious winners. The underdogs! The only single store, independently run business among the finalists.

"We have so many people to thank; our staff, our suppliers and above all, our wonderful customers for their loyalty in supporting the small, independently run and locally owned business."

Kate and Declan now aim to promote their business as "that award-winning bakery in Kyneton" and help boost tourism to the town.

The Australian Small Business Champion Awards is the only national program of its kind to recognise the achievements and performance of small businesses. The awards aims to encourage excellence and drive businesses to success. 

"The Small Business Champion Awards is a way to give back to the backbone of the Australian economy," said Steve Loe, managing director of Precedent Productions and founder of the awards. 

"Every business that entered displayed passion, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit." 

Small businesses from across Australia delivered an impressive array of entries, with winners representing a broad range of industries from all states and territories. 

The awards are proudly presented by Precedent Productions, a small business in its own right, and supported by the Castaway Financial Forecasting System, Australian Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Key Person of Influence and Goalstribe. 

* Country Cob Bakery is hosting a pie eating competition tomorrow morning from 10.30am. The competition is a fundraiser for the local autism support group as part of Autism Awareness Month, so go along and be part of the fun and support a very worthy cause!

Choose your partners ... it's time to relay

Melanie and Matthew Foley, with their children, Alexander, Millie and Cooper, are donating an award to the Lancefield Macedon Ranges Relay for Life to be given in memory of Melanie's mother, Carol Ladgrove.

It's a dance competition, so get your scootin' boots on!

If you are near Lancefield Park around 6pm this Saturday you may get the urge to twirl your partner or bust a few energetic moves. Lots of others will be doing just that on the footy oval that gives way to the Lancefield/Macedon Ranges Relay For Life for one weekend every March.
The Carol Ladgrove Award will be contested in the form of a dance competition that will challenge teams to put their best ballroom, rock 'n' roll, disco and Gangnam style dancers on the track for a lap like no other.
Chief dance judge, Melanie Foley, cared for her mother Carol at her family's Romsey home before she died in May last year. She had fought a long battle against Multiple Myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.
Carol danced in the rain with family members at last year's Relay For Life and a month later achieved her goal of celebrating her 60th birthday.
Melanie's husband Matt instigated the idea of donating an award to be given out at the Relay in memory of his mother-in-law. The dance competition was chosen by the family because of the joy that music and dance gave Carol, even when she was very ill.
The winning team will receive $500 towards its fundraising total. It should be enough incentive to inspire some spectacular costumes, if not plenty of fancy footwork to make the judging tense.
Teams will also be invited to test their strength in tug of war contests and to keep their shirts and hats on during slip, slop, slap and slide races. Prize money donated by the Romsey and Lancefield Community Banks will also go into the winners' fundraising banks.
Over the past 12 months, teams have again tried various ways of raising money for the Cancer Council Victoria. Barefoot bowls, golf, sausage sizzles, old time dancing, trivia nights, raffles and dinners have been enjoyed in the name of Relay For Life.
About 25 teams will participate in the overnight Relay at Lancefield Park this weekend. Registrations will be taken up until Saturday afternoon. Cancer survivors and carers are invited to join in the first lap to 'Celebrate, Remember, Fightback' at 3pm. It is not necessary to be in a team but individuals must check in at the registration office before walking on the track.
For more information visit www.relayforlife.org.au, ring 1300 656 585 or contact Kelly Milne on 0419 319 429.